UNESCO on Thursday elected to keep Dresden's Elbe Valley in Germany as a world heritage site, but a disputed bridge will keep
the valley on a list of endangered culture landscapes.
The Elbe Valley's status was called into question in 2006 because of a
disputed bridge now under construction. UNESCO has called for the bridge to be
replaced with a tunnel.
The community was already given a grace period last year in which to change its
plans for the bridge. If the valley loses UNESCO support it would be the first
site to be stripped of its world heritage status.
The UNESCO World Heritage commission made the decision Thursday in Quebec,
Canada where the commission is holding its 32nd meeting to review the status of
many of the world's cultural and natural treasures.
German delegate Brigitte Ringbeck said Dresden is facing a
final chance to either cease construction or lose the heritage designation, dpa reported.
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