The following letter was sent to UNESCO on Nov 29, 2004 and the article in the Guardian was published based on this letter a couple of weeks later.
Subject: Imminent danger of disappearance of Pasargad-Iran
Dear Mr. Director-General,
It is with great anxiety and despair that I decided to write to you and seek your urgent attention to the immediate danger facing a number of historic cultural sites in Iran. Among these, mention must be made of Pasargad that was selected as one of the World Heritage sites by UNESCO in July 2003.
In a few months, Pasargad will be submerged under tons of mud, as a result of the Sivand Dam constructed at the Polvar River in Teng-e-Bolghi, four kilometers from the ancient capital of the Achaemenids. The dam is scheduled for completion on 21 March 2005.
In addition, last week, Iran’s historic Shalu Bridge was submerged under the Karunn-3 Dam built in the Izeh region of Khuzestan Province. This was Iran’s first suspension bridge that was built some hundred years ago. As a result of an engineering mishap, a nearby old bridge was also destroyed. More extensive damages are expected as the reservoir of the Karun-3 Dam fills up and becomes operational. An ancient site from the Elamite era as well as several sites and artifacts dating back to the Stone Age are in danger of being flooded. In the meantime, the region’s inhabitants have been relocated and smugglers are active in looting the ancient sites. Mr. Director-General, the world has only six month to act!
Other disturbing news relate to Gilan Province, where the construction of another dam could result in the disappearance of some 16 historic sites. This dam is to be constructed near the city of Rudsar in Gilan province.
These are but a few examples among hundreds of careless actions undertaken in countries like mine and around the world. I certainly hope that UNESCO,
through your good offices and under your able leadership, will take swift and apolitical action to safeguard what represents the irreplaceable heritage of present and future generations.
No Government or institution should be permitted to destroy by commission or omission, by greed or carelessness what is left behind by history.
Thank you for your attention, Mr. Director-General. I
remain,Yours sincerely,
Mehri Madarshahi
Paris