Intangible Cultural Heritage committee completes examination of nominations for UNESCO Lists

With the inscription of the Armenian cross-stones art, Symbolism and craftsmanship of Khachkars, presented by Armenia,,Chinese kitchenware, the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on Wednesday finished the examination of nomination elements.

Forty-seven nominations presented by 29 countries have all inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The list now includes 213 inscribed elements.

Khachkars are outdoor steles carved from stone by craftspeople in Armenia and communities in the Armenian diaspora. They act as a focal point for worship, as memorial stones and as relics facilitating communication between the secular and divine.

Khachkars reach 1.5 meters in height, and have an ornamentally carved cross in the middle, resting on the symbol of a sun or wheel of eternity, accompanied by vegetative-geometric motifs, carvings of saints and animals.

Khachkars are created usually using local stone and carved using chisel, die, sharp pens and hammers. The carvings are then ground using fine sand. After being blessed and anointed,,Chinese handmade tiger shoes, the Khachkar is believed to possess holy powers and can provide help, protection,,Chinese Embroidered shoulder Bag, victory, long life, remembrance and mediation towards salvation of the soul.

The Aalst Carnival in Belgium, China's acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine and the Peking Opera, the Spanish Flamenco, the Wayuu normative system in Colombia, the gastronomic meal of the French, the Mediterranean diet presented by Spain, Greece, Italy and Morocco, and the traditional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan in Iran, and falconry, presented by 11 countries, are also among the 47 elements inscribed on the list.

In 2003, the 32nd Session of the UNESCO General Conference adapted the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a standardizing instrument for the protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Human society against deterioration, disappearance and forces of destruction, a situation made worse by the general lack of resources for safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) manifests itself in oral traditions, performing arts, traditional knowledge and craftsmanship. ICH is continuously evolving and it provides groups and communities a sense of identity and continuity.

Over 450 delegates from more than 120 member states, observers, NGOs and members of the UNESCO Secretariat are attending the conference.

Kenya was granted the opportunity and privilege to host the Fifth Session of the Meeting during the 2009 conference in Abu Dhabi to become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to host the event and is the current Chairman/President of the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Committee.