Just last year, Osh residents received a welcome honor. UNESCO, the UN body charged with cultural preservation around the world, designated the “holy mountain” of Sulaiman Too at the heart of their city a world heritage site.
But Suliaman Too did not come alone. The surrounding neighborhoods – mostly ethnic Uzbek mahallas (map) heavily damaged in the recent ethnic violence – were part of the cultural heritage, UNESCO said in a statement at the time.
[S]ince the sacred associations of the mountain are linked to its dramatic form rising from the surrounding plain, it is highly vulnerable to continuing new development on it and around its base. In order to protect its majesty, spirituality, visual coherence and setting and thus the full authenticity of the property, great vigilance will be needed in enforcing protection of its setting.
That appears to mean nothing to Osh Mayor Melisbek Myrzakmatov, who has long wanted to level the (conveniently damaged) neighborhoods as part of his redevelopment plan.
In its original application for UNESCO status, Kyrgyzstan's government promised to protect the area around the heritage site. In return, the honor brought money to Osh, according to the mayor’s office.
“Our sacred mountain is going to enjoy world fame under the auspices of this international organization. […] UNESCO will also annually allocate funds for maintaining and preserving the cultural and historical values of Sulaiman Too,” Mayor Myrzakmatov cheered last summer.
Now, Osh authorities plan to replace the Uzbek mahallas with modern apartment blocks, though they are not saying exactly where. That could break the terms of the UNESCO agreement. President Roza Otunbayeva has thrown her support behind the controversial project, though the UN has reportedly urged the president to cancel the plan.
The Asian Development Bank has started helping the Osh mayor to fulfill his plan by donating almost $150 million to Osh redevelopment.
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