The 24th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Organization of World Heritage Cities was held in Bergen, Norway, on January 31 and February 1, 2008. It was the first meeting of the Board that was elected at the General Assembly in Kazan in June 2007. Representatives from all seven cities that are members of the Board attended the meeting.

The Board worked diligently to discuss all of the issues on the agenda. The programs and activities were reviewed as well as the proposals for the revision of the bylaws. Presentations were made on the progress of the preparations for the OWHC World Congress in Quito in September 2009, the development of the proposed Management Guide as well as the OWHC exhibition that will take place during the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, which will be held from July 2 to 10 in Quebec City, Canada. In addition, the final profile of the Jean-Paul L’Allier Heritage Prize was approved.

The Board received a very warm welcome from the Chief Commissioner of Bergen, Ms. Monica Maeland. The Commissioner for the Environment, Ms. Lysbeth Iverson, and the Director of Heritage Management for the City as well as the OWHC Regional Coordinator for Northwest Europe, Dr. Siri Myrvoll, attended the meeting and accompanied the Board members throughout their stay, showing them the heritage site and extending to them the City’s warm hospitality. Sincere thanks to Bergen.

Links:

• Official website of Bergen
• Bergen, World Heritage City
• Wikipedia: Bergen