ICOMOS has been reading with great alarm recent international press articles which report that the demolition of the majority of the old city of Kashgar (Xinjiang Province - China) is underway:

• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/showdown-at-the-crossroads-of-the-world-1698167.html
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/28/china-heritage-conservation-silk-road
• http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/asia/28kashgar.html?emc=eta1

A letter has been sent to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and ICOMOS China expressing ICOMOS’ grave concern and asking for further information on the situation.

Reproduced from ICOMOS International Secretariat e-news, n° 48, June 12 2009.