Borobudor Declaration on world heritage sites

BOROBUDUR, CJava Indonesia - Delegates to the World Conference on

Heritage Sites and Archeological Wonders here have issued a

"Borobudur Declaration" calling on all custodians and managers of

world heritage sites to empower all peoples of the world to access and

enjoy world wonders in accordance with their individual social,

cultural, and spiritual requirements.

The Borobudur Declaration was issued at the close of the four-day conference

of tourism experts, heritage site managers, archaeologists and anthropolofists

representing developing countries including the Philippines.

The delegates through the declaration described empowerment to mean that

all people regardless of cultural background, educational attainment,

economic circumstances and physical abilities should be able to access,

experience and derive values and benefits from the world heritage sites.

World heritage sites and archaeological wonders are monuments to th creative

skills and values of the peoples of our past and are powerful transmitters of

symbolic meanings for the present and the future, the declaration said.

The Borobudur Declaration was read by Dr. Roland Silva of Sri Lanka,

presidnet of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

The conference workshops were held at the Borobudur Temple, the

Prambanan Temple and other manificient heritage sites in Central Java and

Yogyakarta.

Among the topics discussed during the four-day confernece were:

Empowerment of Local Communities in Relation to Heritage Sites;

Contribution of Communities in the Conservation of Cultural Properties and

Living Heritage; the Role of Tourism in Heritage and Community Development;

and UNESCO's Role in Creating the Wonders of the Future."

The forum examined practical questions relating to economic viability in terms

of how local communities in developing countries can maximize the benefits

from the heritage sites located in their respective localities.