Opening this topic for those who want to watch & discuss: January 24, from 10-18 Paris time
https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/18EXTCOM

If I interpret the agenda and documents well, the 3 emergency nominations will be inscribed tomorrow (and not wait until the main WHC meeting in September 2023).

Finally, something to watch/listen to today. Looking forward to the inscription of the following:

1. Rachid Karami International Fair - Tripoli - Lebanon
2. Historic Center of the Port City of Odesa - Ukraine
3. Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba in Marib Governorate - Yemen

I find it exciting to have a mini session to keep us waiting before the big session in September, and the arrival of sites of memory of recent conflicts is a turning point in the history of World Heritage, as could have been the inscription of the first cultural landscape (Tongariro) in its time. In addition, the inscription of Odessa should be very taken up in the media, will we have a live speech in distanciel today of the Ukrainian president at UNESCO?

Russia kicks off, opposes the inclusion of emergency nominations in the agenda (due to rules of procedure/this is not what the extraordinary session was meant for).

And then my video connection froze...

Suspicious?

It says 'Retransmission currently suspended', also on the alternative channels. But I guess they keep on talking on the Floor.

Back up again!

Russia does have a bit of a point of course, as the emergency nominations have come out of the blue. On the other hand, why wait 9 months more for sites such as those in Lebanon and Yemen who have submitted already their emergency request in the first half of 2022?

But they will not win it on legal grounds - the WHC can discuss at the session whatever they want, and they can amend the agenda as they like.

Does Russia have allies in the Committee in the event of a vote on the agenda?

By including Yemen and Lebanon it would have been hoped to reduce the extent to which Ukraine could be seen to have been given a "special pass"?

They recently have found a new friend globally in South Africa. But generally No I'd think. Russia of course looks at the Ukrainian nomination, but African/Arab states also look at the ones from Yemen and Lebanon.

Committee Members: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Zambia

The Chair Princessa Haifa wants to move on. She looks determined.

Russia now looks to go for the "filibuster" approach