Government should submit updated reports requested by UNESCO on Valletta, PN says<\/p>\n
The Nationalist Party insisted Thursday that the government should submit updated reports about Valletta as requested by UNESCO, the Nationalist Party said.<\/p>\n
Our country’s historical, cultural and natural heritage is not merely a reminder of the past, but a patrimony which we are duty-bound to protect and pass on to future generations.<\/p>\n
Valletta, as a World Heritage Site recognised by UNESCO, is a symbol of our national identity and of universal value that extends far beyond our shores. It is therefore concerning that the Maltese Government has still not submitted the updated reports requested by UNESCO for this status to be confirmed.<\/p>\n
In 2023, the then Minister for Culture had admitted that the Government had fallen behind in the preparation of the requested reports and had promised that these would be finalised and submitted by the end of that year – something which appears not to have happened, so much so that, according to media reports published today, UNESCO is now requesting that they be submitted without further delay. The same international organisation had eventually given the Government until the end of 2024 to present the necessary reports. At the time, the Government had tried to reassure us that Valletta’s World Heritage status was not at any risk.<\/p>\n
It is Malta’s duty to honour the international obligations it assumed when it became party to UNESCO conventions. The report on the state of conservation of Valletta is not simply an administrative exercise, but an essential tool to assess how we are protecting and managing one of the country’s most important treasures – our capital city.<\/p>\n
UNESCO, which appears to have been chasing the Government on this matter for years, is emphasising the need to address concerns related to the protection of the historic setting, views and unique character of Valletta.<\/p>\n
The Partit Nazzjonalista believes that the protection of our historical and national heritage should not be a matter of political controversy or particular interests, but a collective responsibility. A country that respects its history and culture is a country that shows respect towards its citizens, towards the international community and towards those who will come after us.<\/p>\n
The Opposition is therefore appealing to the Government to prepare and present the required report as soon as possible, in a transparent and professional manner, and based on the best available evidence.<\/p>\n
This is necessary not only for Malta to fulfil its obligations towards UNESCO, but also for us to provide concrete proof of our commitment to protecting what makes us a people and a nation. Through actions, not words alone.<\/p>\n
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