The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Saint Petersburg (Russia), decided unanimously on Friday to inscribe "Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage" on the World Heritage List, sponsored by UNESCO.

Rabat's candidacy did not require a vote, as the 21 members of the World Committee acclaimed the decision to inscribe it, while congratulating Morocco for having presented an "exemplary" site.

The Rabat site includes six components spread over three districts: "the new city", "the Trial Garden and historical gardens", "the Medina", "the Kasbah of the Oudayas", "the Almohad ramparts and gates", and "the Chellah archaeological site".

In the Declaration of "outstanding universal value" concerning the Moroccan site, the World Committee notes that Rabat as a modern city "embodies a pioneering urbanism, concerned with the conservation of historical monuments and traditional housing".

This skilful marriage between tradition and modernity "expresses the emergence of an original architectural and decorative style specific to contemporary Morocco", it is emphasised.

In its decision, the World Committee followed the recommendation of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) which, in an evaluation report submitted last May, recommended the inscription of Rabat based in particular on certain criteria of the World Heritage Convention.

Icomos also emphasises that Rabat satisfies the conditions of "integrity" and "authenticity" justifying the attribution of "outstanding universal value".