PAB requests that the Ministry of Culture immediately invites UNESCO to visit the port of Ibiza
14/07/2009
The chairman of the Port Authority of Balears (PAB), Francesc Triay, has requested the Ministry of Culture, through the State Ports, to invite without delay, the committee from UNESCO, to assess whether the projects designed for the port of Ibiza will affect "Ibiza, biodiversity and culture", declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. It was also emphasized that the PAB had no official knowledge of the agreement adopted in Seville in late June by the Heritage Committee of UNESCO, broadcasted yesterday by the GEN-GOB at a press conference in Ibiza. The PAB made it clear that it has always strictly followed the procedures necessary to carry out the internal expansion and reforms of the port of Ibiza. Accordingly, it was pointed out that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Environment in June 2008, which granted a hearing and the opportunity to file allegations during the process of public information. Detrimental delay The PAB believes that none of the property under the protection of the declaration of Ibiza World Heritage Site is affected by the proposed extension and internal renovation of the port. UNESCO was informed of this in a letter dated April 16, 2009. It is therefore seeking an urgent visit by experts from the World Heritage Center, IUCN and ICOMOS to the port of Ibiza in order to clarify the project in detail and to defend the condition of protected natural area. The PAB will do everything in its power to ensure that there are no more delays in the schedule of renovations at the port of Ibiza. A further setback would be detrimental not only to maritime shipping, but also to all residents and visitors to the Pitiusas, as well as to the image of the main entrance to the island of Ibiza.
