The text of speech delivered by Dr. Mohammad Reza Saeidabadi, Secretary General ofIranian National Commission for UNESCO on the occasion of delivering the certificate of Bam and its cultural landscape Bam, 07 July 2008

 I stand on a high platform overlooking the place. You never see such an astonishing vista all over the world. This is the graveyard of Bam which lost more than 40,000 residents during the catastrophic earthquake four years ago. Today, lots of greenery, flowers, sweeties and candles beside the Holy Quran are placed on cashmere tablecloths covering graves, as if all the departed are alive and witness. The survivors meet the New Year commemorating memories of their departed dears. After coming the New Year, sweet words, flowers and sweeties are exchanged. These were a part of the story narrated by one of our colleagues in the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO from the New Year (1387) ceremony in Bam.
Today, we have gathered on the occasion of inscribing Bam and its cultural landscape in the List of Word Heritage in Danger. We are here to dedicate its inscription certificate to you in order to commemorate memories of those who lost their lives in the tragic  earthquake and appreciate endeavors and constancy of those who intend to restore Bam.
During recent decades, many cultural and natural heritage have been annihilated. Also, demolition, erosion, natural disasters, wars, struggles, excessive poverty, industrialization, environmental pollution, ignorance and indifference destroy scarce treasures. 35 years ago, the world community adopted the Convention on Preserving World Cultural and Natural Heritage to guarantee survival and maintenance of safeguarding cultural and natural heritage in case of swift changes. The concept and scope of heritage and convention have already transformed. At present, not only a historical and natural site but also a city as a whole has capability to be inscribed in the World Heritage list, while accepting economic growth as a necessity. Competition of various countries to register their heritage proves welcoming the list. It goes without saying that heritage inscription is not considered the end but the beginning of a process. Since the infrastructure of the Convention–that is sustainable preserving of heritage belonging to the whole world not to a certain tribe, group or nation–necessitates consistent programming, sustainable management and reporting.
Registering a site in the World Heritage List brings national and local glory and pride, encourages integrity at local, national and international levels and could be followed by global respect, acceptance as well as economical advantages.
After inscription, informing and attracting local communities are fundamental measures which contributes to preservation. Education, especially for the youth living in places where sites have been inscribed, should be prioritized as well. Therefore, Article 27 of the Convention confirms that the Member States should appreciate and safeguard their cultural and natural heritage employing all proper facilities specially informing and training programs.
World Heritage in Hands of the Youth, an international project, was designed in UNESCO World Heritage Center to familiarize the youth with distinguished sites, equip them with necessary skills and knowledge requiring them to transfer heritage to next generations and play a basic role in preserving cultural and natural diversity through global collaborations.
Despite constant endeavors to introduce, preserve and inscribe astonishing Iranian heritage, no essential action has been taken to include it in official curriculum to familiarize the youth with heritage concepts and applications.
Gatherings such as today, that will be organized for other Iranian inscribed sites too, provides a proper opportunity for officials in various provinces and cities to anticipate programs to inform the youth and local community accordingly. In light of their active and effective participation, cultural and natural heritage as symbols of cultural identity will be preserved. The swift and exceptional UNESCO educational and cultural contribution to Bam after the earthquake and its inscription in the list of World Heritage in Danger prove the commitment of global community to restore Bam and its Arg, since Arg takes its true meaning from eminent palms and patient people who have protected their heritage through generations and try to rebuild it more glorious than before. Their solid determination has been displayed in the motto on the walls reading “Bam, we build you again even with our bones”.