Unesco Ambassador Ray Bondin will be replaced as the Government tries to address concerns about Valletta’s World Heritage status.

Times of Malta reported on Monday that Unesco was worried about the City Gate project’s impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of Valletta, for which it is inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Replying to written questions, the Culture Parliamentary Secretariat listed the designation of a new honorary ambassador among the “procedures” it had “set in motion” to protect Valletta.

It added that Unesco's concerns were not only about the City Gate project but also other developments in and around the capital. 

An announcement on Dr Bondin’s replacement as honorary ambassador and permanent delegate to Unesco would be made “in due time”, the secretariat said.

It would not divulge the identity of the new ambassador. Dr Bondin was reluctant to speak on the matter yesterday, saying he had not yet been removed from his post.

However, he confirmed he had been told he would be replaced but did not know when or why.

I cannot understand it. I am a well-known expert at Unesco on world heritage and have been very active over many years

“I cannot understand it. I am a well-known expert at Unesco on world heritage and heritage in general and have been very active over many years,” he said, adding he did not know who would take on his role.

Since his services as charge d’affaires of Malta in Portugal is due to end on July 1, he presumed that would also be the date when his Unesco post will be terminated.

Dr Bondin was chosen in 2010 as ambassador and permanent delegate of Malta to Unesco, the UN’s world heritage body. He pointed out that his position was unpaid and only four overseas assignments each year were funded.

He has nearly 30 years’ experience in heritage protection and founded the International Council of Monuments and Sites (Icomos) Malta.

Petya Totcharova, Unesco’s Europe and North America Unit chief, told Times of Malta last week that Unesco planned to send an “advisory mission of experts” to Malta to assess the potential impact of new developments on the capital’s World Heritage status.

This led readers to question if the UN world heritage body was fully aware of the City Gate plans.

The Government insisted that Unesco had been consulted and had raised “complaints” all along.

The controversial City Gate and Parliament project was announced by the previous government in June 2009 and works got under way in April 2010.

Designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the project at the entrance to Valletta was forecast to cost €80 million and is expected to be completed next year.

According to the Culture Parliamentary Secretariat, following the March 9 general election local experts “immediately” alerted the Government to Unesco’s concerns about Valletta and procedures were set in motion to address the matter.

Apart from Dr Bondin’s replacement, action to be taken by the Government to address the matter include setting up an ad hoc working group focused on protecting Valletta’s World Heritage status, which it has held since 1980.

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