Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The 41st session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee continues in Krakow.

The Committee considers requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List and examines the state of conservation of sites already inscribed on the List, as well as many other issues concerning the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

Azerbaijan has nominated the Palace of Sheki Khans and the historical center of Sheki for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List, the Culture and Tourism Ministry reported.

During the discussions on Azerbaijan’s nomination, the member countries of the committee, disagreeing with the position of IKOMOS, an international organization whose activities are dedicated to the preservation and protection of cultural and historical sites around the world and which is an evaluation structure, noted that Sheki deserves to be considered a world heritage by the appropriate criteria.

Eventually, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopted a decision "referral" (sending for short-term revision) on the "Historical center of Sheki together with the Palace of Sheki Khans" file.

Thus, at this stage the Committee recognized the universal exclusive value of the monument and the Azerbaijani side was given time for solving issues of protection and other issues.

Sheki, being one of the most ancient cities of Azerbaijan, is called the architectural reserve of the country.

Sheki is also home to a number of ancient arts. Tinners, potters, hatters and musical instrument makers are working there. Shebeke ornament is one of the ancient arts in Sheki, what made Sheki famous around the world.

The Palace of Shaki Khans remains one of the most precious pearls of this unique city. The maples in the palace's yard are even older than buildings there.

The Palace was built in 1797 by Muhammed Hasan Khan. The unique beauty of the Palace amazes with its magnificent interior and exterior.

The basic material for the Palace construction was raw bricks, river stones, plane trees and oaks. The most amazing is that not a single nail or glue drop was used for the construction. Everything is in place due to a special solution the formula of which was lost forever.

The Shaki Khans' Palace has been repeatedly restored and today it is open for tourists in all its majesty and beauty.

The gems of Azerbaijani culture, including the Icherisheher (Old City), Maiden Tower and Shirvanshah's palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, while since 2007 the Gobustan National Historical-Artistic reserve also listed among these heritages.

UNESCO’s Heritage list also includes the Novruz holiday, Azerbaijani mugham, national ashig art, the national carpet, traditional Kalagayi headwear and national musical instrument “tar.”

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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