site.btaDeputy PM Simeonov: UNESCO Decision Allows New Gondola Lift in Bansko

Sofia, June 29 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov Friday told journalists that a UNESCO decision allows the construction of a new gondola lift in the Bansko ski area. He was speaking after his return from the 42nd session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Manama, Bahrain.

Simeonov explained that a draft decision of the World Heritage Committee called for Bulgaria to not implement a Council of Ministers decision of December 2017, which amends the Management Plan for Pirin National Park and allows the construction of sports installations in the Bansko ski area. In his words, had this version of UNESCO's decision been adopted, it would have been a loud face slap for the Government and Bulgaria as a whole.

The newly adopted text of the decision, which the Bulgarian delegation to the 42nd session coordinated with their colleagues from the other States Parties, practically allows the construction of the gondola lift in what UNESCO calls the buffer zone of Pirin National Park, Simeonov went on to say. The decision also calls on the Bulgarian Government to abstain from new construction decisions until the Supreme Administrative Court issues a position on the legality of the request for an environmental impact assessment of the amended Management Plan for Pirin National Park.

Taking a question, Simeonov said that the concession agreement on the Bansko ski area will be revised, with certain technical errors going to be corrected.
  
Late on Thursday, the Government Information Service reported that the
Bulgarian delegation to the 42nd session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee presented and defended the State's position on the conservation of Pirin National Park.

Following a series of meetings of the Bulgarian delegation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the other delegations over the course of three days, on Thursday the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention unanimously voted in favour of the texts proposed by Bulgaria confirming the sustainable management of this  world heritage site and the perspective for balanced development  of tourism there.

In the newly adopted decision, the World Heritage Committee  notes that the extension of the ski infrastructure in Pirin  National Park is now allowed and calls on Bulgaria to strictly  adhere to the legal procedures for the approval of investment  proposals so that the site's value would not be affected, the press release reads.