Fatmira Nikolli

Construction in Pogradec and Tushemisht has reached the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The proposed projects appear to jeopardize the Lake's UNESCO status.

The Global World Heritage Monitoring Network expressed its deep disappointment at the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that the committee has once again failed to include the national and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The meeting, held on 24 July, criticized the fact that for the second year in a row, Turkey has challenged the conclusions of the advisory bodies and weakened the authority of independent experts regarding the situation on both sides of Lake Ohrid, threatened by construction and development plans.

 

“The evidence is undeniable, Lake Ohrid remains under severe and increasing pressure. Its Outstanding Universal Value is at risk and the increasing impacts that continue to drive this unique heritage site towards irreversible damage. The List of World Heritage in Danger exists precisely for a moment like this. When the international community must act before it is too late,” said the representative of the Global World Heritage Monitoring Network.

 

Assessing the serious threats, the World Heritage Committee gave Albania and North Macedonia five years to implement the recommendations.

“On the Albanian side, the Drilon-Tushemisht waterfront project, the five-story residential development in Tushemisht and the proposed 27-story Pogradec Marina demonstrate the alarming scale of the threat. We commend the advisory bodies for their integrity and commitment. The Committee will continue to monitor the deterioration of the property until its authenticity and integrity are completely lost. Today, unfortunately, in the eyes of the public, politics prevailed over our duty to protect Lake Ohrid,” the 48th session was told.

The representative of Albania pledged to implement the committee's decision and the recommendations of the reactive monitoring missions. UNESCO noted that unauthorized construction, uncontrolled urbanization, damage to the lake shoreline, inadequate wastewater management, and insufficient ecosystem protection remain the main threats to the Ohrid Region.