File for Ohrid Lake Inscription on UNESCO Ready by mid-2017

TIRANA, March 31

Albania must submit the UNESCO nomination file for Ohrid Lake by mid-2017. Currently, the Ministry of Culture launched the procedure on contracting a consultant that will prepare and draft the nomination file for a possible modification of the border of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region. Therefore it will be possible to include the Albanian part of the lake in this region.
The nomination file is the main document that the World Heritage Committee uses for making its decision on a site registration.
The process for listing Ohrid Lake area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site started since 2012. Meanwhile, the Macedonian side of the lake, which includes two third of the lake surface was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Ohrid Lake is one of the oldest lakes in the world and the oldest and deepest lake in Europe. Time has arrived that Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region includes even the Albanian part.
Therefore, even cross-border cooperation between Albania and Macedonia will gain more importance. The project on cross-border cooperation was adopted by the European Commission as part of IPA funds. It is for a total of Euro 2 million. About Euro 1.7 million was granted by the European Commission and the other part of the Albanian government. The fund will serve for the preparation of the nomination file that will be scrutinized by UNESCO Committee.
The project also includes the drafting of a financial plan for the region as the nomination alone is not enough. It is necessary in order to support the sustainable development of the area as well as the protection of natural and cultural elements.
The entire process will require about 4-5 months. Afterwards, the file will be scrutinized by UNESCO experts.
News Source: Monitor

Photo Credit: A. Fezollari