"Representatives of countries sitting in the UNESCO Committee will decide whether the four places nominated by Bali can be recognized as World Heritage Sites," Ketut Suastika, the head of the Bali provincial tourism office, said here on Tuesday.
In October 2011, a International Council on Monuments and Sites(ICOMOS)`team led by Augusto Villanonhad visited Ulundanu Batur Temple in Bangli District, Pakerisan River Basin Area in Gianyar District, Taman Ayun Temple in Badung Disrict, and Catur Angga Batukaru in Tabanan District for an evaluation as nominees of the World Heritage Sites.
"Besides, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova also welcomed the nominations after visiting the four places. She mentioned one thing that make the proposed Balinese places different from nominees in other countries, that what we have proposed carry added value because they are living monuments," he said.
Living monuments mean that the places are still being taken good care by the local communities, including by the village traditional authorities and the irrigation organization locally called "subak", he said.
"The UNESCO Committee will hold a meeting in Paris, France, in May 2012, to decide the recommendations from Mr Augusto Villanon," he said.
If Bali successfully meets all the requirements, the four places will be named as "Bali Cultural Landscape Subak System", he said, adding that because the four areas will be integrated and philosophically they are connected especially in the "subak" management process for irrigation.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova is making her first official visit to Indonesia, among other things to open the 6th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Bali from November 22 to 29, 2011.
The Director-General also met with the Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono and the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
