World Heritage Committee inscribes 27 of 43 sites to UNESCO's list

QUEBEC CITY, Canada, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The World Heritage Committee, finished inscribing new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List on Tuesday with the addition of 27 cultural and natural sites.

During Tuesday's morning session, the 21-member committee added two new sites -- The Baha'i Holy Places in Haifa and Western Galilee (Israel) and Chief Roi Mata's Domain in Vanuatu -- to the heritage list.

One extension was also decided Tuesday by the Committee, which inscribed the Historic Centers of Berat and Gjirokastra (Albania).This represents the addition of the city center of Berat to that of Gjirokastra, which was inscribed in 2005.

The Baha'i Holy Places in Haifa and Western Galilee are inscribed for the testimony they provide to the Baha'i's strong tradition of pilgrimage and for their profound meaning for the faith. The property numbers 26 buildings, monuments and sites at 11 locations in Acre and Haifa, associated with the founders of the faith.

Chief Roi Mata's Domain is the first site to be inscribed in Vanuatu. It consists of three early 17th century AD sites on the islands of Efate, Lelepa and Artok associated with the life and death of the last paramount chief, or Roi Mata, of what is now Central Vanuatu.

The latest addition bring the number of this year's new world heritage sites to 27.

The World Heritage Committee, which has so far examined a total of 43 cultural and natural sites, approved four and 21 new heritage sites respectively during Sunday and Monday's session.

Among them are Tulou, the unique residential architecture of Fujian Province, and Mount Sanqingshan National Park in Jiangxi Province in China.

As of now, the UNESCO has 878 properties of "outstanding universal value" on its World Heritage List.

The 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee opened July 3 in Quebec City and will last until July 10.