The UNESCO mission will arrive to inspect Prague by the end of January

Prague - A mission from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which aims to assess the impact of the Blanka tunnel construction on Prague's heritage zone, will arrive in Prague by the end of January. Jan Kněžínek, director of the municipal department of heritage care, told ČTK. The exact date is not yet known. According to Kněžínek, the inspectors want to examine not only the city ring road but also the tunnel constructions under the National Museum, the so-called museum mile, or the planned revitalization of the train station. They may also explore other constructions.
    The UNESCO inspectors originally wanted to come in December, but the date was not favored by the Ministry of Culture. Its officials were concerned that they would not have time to prepare the necessary documentation and suggested a March date.
    The main topic the inspectors should address is the Blanka tunnel and the impact of its construction and future operation on Prague's heritage zone. While the municipal authority and the Czech National Committee of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) are not concerned about the inspection, members of the petition committee "We Want the Truth about the Tunnel" believe that the construction will have a detrimental effect on historical Prague. For example, there is a risk of damage to the fortifications.
    The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO already addressed this issue at its June meeting in Seville, Spain. At that time, it expressed "its deep concern about the potential impacts of the Blanka tunnel complex." However, according to Kněžínek, the inspectors have incorrect information and everything will be clarified during the mission.
    Josef Štulc, director of the Czech branch of ICOMOS, told ČTK that the inspectors will likely address other issues in addition to the officially announced topics. This includes the criticized repairs to Charles Bridge, which UNESCO highlighted in a letter from the Association of Cultural Heritage Protection and Development (ASORKD). They demand that the work on the medieval bridge be halted until any errors in the repairs, pointed out by the Ministry of Culture's commission as well as the National Heritage Institute, are investigated.
    The Czech ICOMOS branch has already prepared a statement for the inspectors on this matter, which ČTK has access to. According to it, halting the work would be an irresponsible step that could pose a greater danger to the monument than the ongoing repairs.
    Another topic that the inspectors might raise is the planned extensive reconstruction of the courtyard between Wenceslas Square, Na Příkopě Street, and Jindřišská Street.
    The municipal authority will host the inspectors. According to Štulc, similar missions last three to four days. "They will ask questions, they will want to see. An unwritten rule is to talk to significant civic associations," said Štulc.
    Prague will not learn the results of the inspection, from which the inspectors will draft a detailed report, until several months later. Mission members are not allowed to speak about their opinions with the media or the hosts, Štulc added. They will present their opinion to the World Heritage Committee, which will discuss it at its meeting at the turn of June and July. This year's meeting will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
    Štulc is convinced that from the perspective of cultural values, Prague is not at risk. He sees skyscrapers in Pankrác as a bigger problem, but the mission will not address them.