One of the peak of the Sulaiman-Too. Photo by Elena Skochilo.

Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain of Kyrgyzstan has become [en] the country’s first site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

On 26 June, during the 33-rd session of UNESCO in Spain the members of the Committee passed by a solid vote to include the Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain of Kyrgyzstan in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

100 countries and 1400 culture-historical objects were also participated in the “Sacred Mountain” nomination.

Culture minister of Kyrgyzstan Sultan Raev told that it wasn’t easy to receive the approval of all members of the Committee from different countries. Kyrgyzstan tried to nominate Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain 10 years ago, but only this year became successful.

So, what next?

Osh city mayor Melisbek Myrzakmatov considers that the Sulaiman-Too will become “worldwide famous”.

Tourists from all the world will come to see Sulaiman-Too and the investigation will increase. Moreover, UNESCO will assign means to support and save the cultural and historical treasures of Sulaiman-Too, Melisbek Myrzakmatov told [ru].

Culture specialist of the National Commission Sabira Soltongeldieva said [ru] BPC, that Kyrgyzstan is going to nominate the Issyk-Kul Lake and Shakh Vasil mausoleum in Jalal-Abad region to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in future.

The Internet-society of Kyrgyzstan were also shared the gladness of the bureaucracy. But a lot of users of Diesel Forum asked [ru] the same question while discussing this news:

Are you sure that the UNESCO means will be received and will be spent only to save the treasures of the Sulaiman-Too?

Building mosque near the Sulaiman-Too. Photo by Elena Skochilo.

I have another question. Aссording UNESCO criteria for selection [en], authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations. So, what about the big mosque that has been building near Sulaiman-Too more one year? Last year I saw the start of the construction work. I think this year the building of the mosque will be finished. Where is the authenticity?

By the way, The World Heritage Committee decided [en] to remove Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley from UNESCO’s World Heritage List due to the building of a four-lane bridge in the heart of the cultural landscape which meant that the property failed to keep its “outstanding universal value as inscribed.”

Dresden was inscribed as a cultural landscape in 2004. The Committee said that Germany could present a new nomination relating to Dresden in the future. In doing so, the Committee recognized that parts of the site might be considered to be of outstanding universal value, but that it would have to be presented under different criteria and boundaries.

Our government should understand the importance of saving our Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain in it’s primeval status.

Also, I found small video from the Sulaiman-Too. There is one sacred stone. People believe if you make a secret wish and roll down from the stome several times, you wish will come true :)

Small video

The World Heritage List includes 890 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.

These include 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed properties in 148 States Parties. As of April 2009, 186 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.

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