Hi all,
Mr Francesco Bandarin of UNESCO has given us permission to circulate his
email response to our enquiry.
I am reproducing it below, leaving out the name of the official from the
Department. Muireann

Dear Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin

Thanks for your message and for asking my view on this matter.
While I always support conservation initiatives coming from civil
society, I was surprised to see a statement with my name in the press
release you mention.
I only met Mr Salafia for 2 minutes in the Conference room while I was
in Quebec, and cafter hearing his points I ommented that a meeting would
have been useful to present his case -as it is obvious.
I did not propose a "UNESCO initiative" or any other thing. I have the
feeling that my comment has been abused and turned into something else.
I have already explained this to Mr [.........] of the Ministry, and I have
been told that Mr Salafia is not new to this kind of twisting.
There is therefore no UNESCO initiative on this issue, and the press
release is phoney.
That said, please feel free to keep us informed on the situation.

Sincerely
Francesco Bandarin
----------------
Francesco Bandarin

Director
Unesco World Heritage Centre

7 Place de Fontenoy
75532 Paris 07 SP

Tel 0033145681572