[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1673-E1674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SEEKING TRANSPARENCY AT THE UNITED NATIONS' WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD W. POMBO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, the United States has been a party to ``The 
Convention Concerning Protection of the World Cultural and

[[Page E1674]]

Natural Heritage'' (World Heritage Convention) for over thirty years. 
This convention, administered by the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), currently protects 20 
World Heritage Sites in the U.S. Moreover, the ``Tentative List'' of 
U.S. World Heritage Sites (www.cr.nps.gov/worldheritage) presently 
contains 70 properties including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 
In order for a site to be nominated as a potential World Heritage Site, 
it must first be on a nation's ``Tentative List.''
  The House Committee on Resources has jurisdiction over U.S. 
participation in the World Heritage Convention. Because of my concern 
for protecting private property rights and American sovereignty, I 
monitor the activities of the World Heritage Committee as do some U.S. 
organizations advocating these same principles.
  Sovereignty International, based in Hollow Rock, TN and chaired by 
Henry Lamb, contacted me earlier this year requesting my assistance in 
its efforts to video tape the proceeding of World Heritage Committee's 
meeting held earlier this month in Durban, South Africa. Despite my 
efforts to advance this very modest proposal, Sovereignty 
International's request was denied in writing by the Secretary of 
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee based in Paris, France.
  Because I believe strongly that governments and international 
organizations should make all reasonable efforts to be transparent, I 
have asked UNESCO for a detailed written explanation of why it denied 
Sovereignty International's request which is very modest by American 
standards. I urge my colleagues to read this letter and be forever 
vigilant in requiring the United Nations and other international 
organizations to be much more transparent in their daily operations.

                                    U.S. House of Representatives,


                                       Committee on Resources,

                                    Washington, DC, July 12, 2005.
     Hon. Francesco Bandarin,
     Secretary, UNESCO WorId Heritage Committee, Paris, France.
       Dear Director Bandarin: As you may know, the House 
     Committee on Resources has jurisdiction over the United 
     States' participation in the World Heritage Convention. 
     Earlier this year, I was contacted by Mr. Henry Lamb of 
     Sovereignty International requesting the Committee's 
     assistance in his efforts to tape proceedings of the World 
     Heritage Committee's July meeting in Durban, South Africa.
       Since Sovereignty International has solid credentials as an 
     NGO and has taped official proceedings of the House Committee 
     on Resources and many federal agencies, I can only consider 
     this modest request as reasonable. As UNESCO frequently 
     advocates increasing its ``transparency'' and this request is 
     not only consistent with but also furthers transparency, it 
     seems only logical that UNESCO would encourage taping of the 
     proceedings.
       Thus, I was surprised to read your June 22, 2005 letter to 
     Mr. Lamb which stated, ``the World Heritage Committee is a 
     public meeting, except when otherwise decided by the 
     Committee. The World Heritage Committee has not approved 
     requests to film the proceedings in the past.''
       To better understand your decision regarding the request to 
     video tape the Durban proceedings, I respectfully request the 
     following:
       1. A copy of the World Heritage Committee's official policy 
     on taping that served as guidance for this decision to deny 
     Mr. Lamb's request.
       2. A list of Committee Members (and UNESCO and Centre 
     staff) that addressed Mr. Lamb's request and an explanation 
     of how they interpreted this official policy to reach their 
     decision. Minutes of any relevant meetings would be most 
     helpful.
       3. A list of other organizations that have requested to 
     ``film the (Committee's) proceedings in the past,'' copies of 
     any correspondence regarding these requests and an 
     explanation as to how each of these requested were handled.
       Finally, I would like to meet with you on this and other 
     matters when you next visit Washington, DC. It would allow us 
     both to better understand each other's concerns.
       Thank you in advance for your assistance and a timely reply 
     on this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Richard W. Pombo,
     Chairman.

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