One of the concerns of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which wants to include Istanbul in the list of "World Heritage in Danger" is that the Halic (Golden Horn) Metro Bridge will damage Istanbul's silhouette.

The decision states that the metro suspension bridge to be constructed over Halic, would irreversibly affect the extraordinary universal value and entirety of cultural assets.

Turkey has six months to prepare a new management plan which will include revisions of the Halic Metro Bridge plans. It is expected that an Environmental Impact Assessment report will be prepared, with the participation of international experts by 15 October 2010. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has to prepare a management plan in line with the EIA report and send it to the committee by February 2011.

"Danger continues, there is need for a number of revisions "

Prof. Dr. Deniz Incedayi, head of the Istanbul branch of the Chamber of Architects, and an academician at the Mimar Sinan University, stated that the danger continues and underlined that a number of revisions have to be made.

According to Incedayi, being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List is an international prestige for Turkey. However, being included in the list of World Heritage in Danger would mean that we are unable to protect a cultural asset.

No competition organised

Incedayi also criticised the fact that the Halic Metro Bridge project has been carried out without an international competition. He added that the Committee has been criticising the plans for the bridge since 2006.

"The main masts of the bridge are high. According to the 2006 decision of the Committee, the 65-meter high masts of the Halic Metro Bridge will negatively affect the view of the Suleymaniye Mosque," said Incedayi.

A 12 year obstinacy: Halic Metro Bridge

The Halic Metro Bridge was first mentioned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbas in an interview in 1998. Topbas drew the concept project. The most controversial issue about the bridge is the height of its load-bearing masts. During last week's meeting in Brazil, the World Heritage Committee has decided that the bridge would irreversibly affect the extraordinary universal value and entirety of cultural assets.

The decision goes on to say that if the bridge is constructed, Istanbul would be added to the list of World Heritage in Danger this year, and be completely excluded from the World Heritage List in 2011. (BB)