I would like to transmit our solidarity with the regional crisis committees and the people of the all the countries struggling to safeguard their heritage.

As the Director General of UNESCO indicated in his message of 16 August 2002 to President Havel of the Czech Republic, UNESCO is readily available to provide technical and emergency assistance to safeguard the precious heritage of future generations.

The 30th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in 2002 also provides new opportunities to increase international solidarity and conservation partnerships more needed than ever.

The following sites have been reported to be threatened (or potentially threatened) – in addition a number of sites, which are included on the tentative lists of the countries concerned may also be affected:

Austria
The Wachau Cultural Landscape
Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg
(Historic Centre of Vienna)

Czech Republic
Historic Centre of Ceský Krumlov
Historic Centre of Prague

Germany
Bauhaus and its sites in Weimar and Dessau
(The Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg)
(Classical Weimar)
Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz

Hungary
Budapest, the Banks of the Danube and the Buda Castle Quarter