The meeting can be followe live here: http://whc36-russia2012.ru/category.php?cat_id=5

Please add your remarks on this session in this topic.

So far I have noted:
- Qatar has provided the translators in Arabic ánd Spanish (just generous, or already pampering the Latinamerican voters?)
- Singapore has ratified the Convention in June. Which means that they can start nominating also.

Yesterday I watched (very "on and off"!!) the opening ceremony with its seemingly never ending list of dignatories being thanked for coming and them thanking the audience for their attention - and actually saying very little of substance in between to an audience whose actual "attention" seemed generally to reach very little above "bored" and was even occasionally asleep from jet lag no doubt (or too much hospitality?)

Among the more interesting comments I noted were -
a. Irina Bokova reminding the delegates that inscription shouldn't be a "beauty contest" and that the objective and scientific (!!!!!) recommendations of advisory bodies shouldn't be overthrown if the high standards achieved re nominations in earlier years (!!!! -Yes she actually said it) were to be maintained and the whole scheme wasn't to degenerate. It will be interesting to see if the WHC is "cowed" by all this into rubber stamping AB evaluations!
b. The St Petersburg bigwig pointing out the problems of maintaining his city as a vibrant growing city which would overcome the neglect of years whilst still preserving its historic fabric. Lots of other city fathers (e.g Liverpool!) would agree
c. Bukova also talked of the need to cut costs but made no mention of UNESCO's parlous financial state following the US removal of subscription!

Germany wants to host the 2015 WHC session in Berlin

That's a long time in advance to be making a play - we don't know who is doing 2013 and 2014 yet! Is there a special anniversary then either for Germany or Berlin? (apart from 70 years after WWII!)

There's some anniversary (I did not exactly understand what), and they wanted to celebrate that they've returned as a member of the committee after 14 years.
It actually came at the end of a long introduction by a German government minister, and I thought that she was going to offer a sum of money.
Organizing the conference might be costly also. A strong applause followed.

They now have gone off for lunch break.

Some further remarks about this morning session:
- India and Mexico are very active in taking the microphone
- they (and some others) have been criticizing IUCN and ICOMOS, want them to be more transparant in their process and be more of a help than a judge >> the (new?) process for "upstreaming" could be the answer for that

Am I doing something wrong, All day it has just been a black screen.

This taken with the IUCN and ICOMOS delivering their address was the most interesting of what I have watched. While all the delgates were very thankful for the work the AB bodies did, they could not help but make serious critiques of these organizations. It seemed particular apparent that some countries felt the AB bodies were not sending "regional experts" that understand the worth and value of their culture.

Secondly, Senegal in particular noted that instead of only recieving an evaluation on the property, they would appreciate some guidance on further preservation and how best to strengthen any particular nomination. Estonia was the sole voice of support for the AB bodies saying "they are fair to all countries." (paraphrased) While most of the other countries Mexico, Senegal, Columbia, Germany, and France all add some critiques. Objectivity and transperancy were both mentioned, moreover, the IUCN chairperson in response wanted details on what specific aspect of their organization was not meeting the delgates satisfaction.

Interesting debate...

Maybe your internet connection is too slow or your PC/laptop too old?

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the transmission, both sound and images are very clear. I even let only the sound run only for a while, using it as a radio while I was working.

By the way, I really appreciate that they've taken this step to allow everyone to watch.

I have even been watching in one of the Wetherspoons pubs using their wifi with my little iPod - so it doesn't need Flash player - though that is what is running it on my Windows 7 PC. Check what video player you have on your machine and update to the latest version of Flash if you are using a Windows PC?.

Herewith my notes on the discussion on the ICOMOS report. ICOMOS in effect had said that as far as they were concerned they were doing what UNESCO wanted as per the Operational guidelines - but, in the subsequent discussion it was clear that no one was happy.
I was impressed with the contibutions of India, Mexico, Columbia, Switzerland and Senegal - some of the others were very "thin " on content and logic - loads of time spent on diplomatic niceties congratulating the chair on her appointment, St Petersburg for hosting the session etc etc!!

Did anyone pick up on what Col/Mex and India DID come back with at 3pm??

Discussion on the ICOMOS report
Col
"Feel that the opinions of our national bodies are marginalised by Advisory Bodies ( ABs). They send along people who don't understand our culture and don't even speak our language"
Ind/Sui
"Need more trust – and this needs more transparency. Issue of upstream processes.
Reports sometimes undermine the work of the national delegations – this goes against the objectives of the Convention".
Fra
Wants greater transparency in choice of experts
Est
"States Parties (SPs) and ABs shouldn't be on different sides of fence – Est experience has been disappointing regarding lack of trust. Standards to be imposed are equal for all SPs"
Alg
"We support ABs in their work BUT the time has come to have a discussion on methods, program and resources!"
Jap
"Importance of dialog between SPs and ABs to establish mutual trust - and transparency for credibility. Resources are limited and we have to find out better ways of using these limited resources"
Ser
"Supports Ind in underlining the specifity of region in evaluating (natural) sites – not taken enough into account in the past"
Chair
"Convinced more and more need for a working group to follow the WHC on this matter."

ICCROM
Useless speech – no one even wants to comment!! (By the way - what value does ICCROM add to the WHS processes which could not be provided by ICOMOS?)

Representative of the "Indigenous peoples of Russia" is given 2 minutes! Uses up half of it on niceties.
"Natural sites which belong to indigenous peoples are given no recognition by the Convention – a separate group should be set up for indigenous peoples to participate in – Nature is their "cultural heritage" yet the relationship between nature and culture is not taken on board"

IUCN – "a few points in response. India's key point re advisory role v assistance role. There is a range of ways to improve this e.g via upstream process – no engagement early on means it is far too late for dialog when the nomination is made.
Regional nature of issues – need to establish regional presence (IUCN)
Transparency – IUCN will explain changes in its processes but IUCN feels it is addressing this issue – it needs more e.gs on what is wrong
IUCN fully accepts Indigenous group's comment
IUCN is prepared to take on new ideas".

Chair
"Everyone is ready for dialog and improve transparency. Proposes Working Group after the session. Prefers to think about the proposal – Ind/Mex/Col etc should sit together and make a proposal rather than spend time now on "literary work"."
Col agrees.
Chair – consult with ABs and come back at 3pm

Some time ago I also had problems with the latest version of Flash Player. I uninstalled RealPlayer, then everything worked perfectly.

United States is present with a delegate.

Just a general observation, the delegate from India is very active and blunt in his assessments on world heritage sites in danger.

It must be something to do with my work PC, as I tried on my laptop this morning and it worked fine. Most of the settings are the same but I can't tinker too much so I may be without it at work.

Oh well it looks like I am relying on you guys for a run down of proceedings until we get to the important stuff at the weekend anyway.

I am pretty positive the representative from Angola is sleeping.