Report No. PID7516 Project Name Azerbaijan-Cultural Heritage Support(+) Project Region Europe and Central Asia Sector Cultural Heritage Project ID 58969 Borrower Government of Azerbaijan Republic Implementing Agency Committee for the Conservation of Cultural and Historical Heritage (the Committee) Icheri Sheher, 39 A. Zeynalli Baku, Azerbaijan Tel: 99 412 92 1918 Fax: N/A Environment Category B Date This PID Prepared March 15, 1999 Date Initial PID Prepared November 24, 1998 Projected Appraisal Date April 1, 1999 Projected Board Date May 1999 Country and Sector Background 1. Azerbaijan's location at the intersection of major trading routes accounts for its unique culture, which has assimilated influences from China, Western Europe, the Arab world and Russia. Its monuments bear witness to these influences and to Azerbaijan's contributions to the cultures of neighboring countries. 2. During the Soviet era the preservation of cultural monuments was largely in the hands of the Ministry of Culture of the Soviet Union and Soviet Republics. Work undertaken by professional restorers was performed in line with state-of-the-art practices prevailing then. Starting in 1988, the efforts to preserve cultural monuments began to lose momentum and important monuments began to deteriorate. This trend accelerated with the sharp contraction of economic activity after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. As a result of these developments Azerbaijan's ability to preserve its cultural monuments has been greatly diminished: Government agencies involved in the preservation of cultural monuments lack the financial resources to prevent a further deterioration of even the most important monuments. With the renewed interest in Azerbaijan's culture, agencies emphasized restoration and reconstruction of monuments over conservation, even if available information did not allow for proper restoration. Agencies are keen to show material results and therefore, often proceed with restorations without having a concept of the ultimate objective of the restoration effort. With the decline in the emphasis on proper restoration and conservation, the number of skilled craftsmen has dwindled and many of their approaches and practices are no longer state-of-the art; The agencies have no computers and outdated diagnostic equipment; craftsmen work with the most primitive tools. The result is often irreparable damage to historical materials. 3. Recognizing the significant national and global value of its cultural heritage and its potential to enhance social cohesion and revive the tourism industry, the Government has: passed a law to regulate the conservation of national monuments in Azerbaijan. initiated efforts to streamline its governmental organizations for these efforts with the objective to privatize some of these agencies. asked for the Bank's assistance for the efforts in conserving and restoring key monuments and support for strengthening the capacities of the agencies involved in these efforts. Objectives 4. The project development objective is to enhance the awareness of Azerbaijan's culture and through that strengthen the national identity and social cohesion. This, in turn, should contribute to stability and a favorable investment climate. 5. The proposed project would enhance Azerbaijan's capacity to conserve and restore its historical cultural monuments, and restore or conserve a selected number of cultural monuments which play an important role in Azerbaijan's history and which are in imminent danger. The Government has proposed four sites for conservation and, where appropriate, for restoration: (a) the Shirvanshah Palace, (b) the Sheki Khan Palace, (c) the Karabaglar and the (d) Momine Khatum mausoleums. All of the sites have been ranked as being of international value under a project funded by UNESCO; are significant landmarks nationally and in the context of their surroundings; and people identify with the sites, culturally and personally. Description Shirvanshah Palace 6. The Shirvanshah Palace is a 15th century monument located on the highest point in Baku's ancient walled city. The palace is an ensemble of several buildings enclosed by a wall, consisting of the palace residence, Divanhane (a pavilion for public meetings), family tomb, palace mosque, the mausoleum of Bakuvi (a noted scientist of the time), and the palace bath- house. The Shirvanshah Palace is an essential component of the old town, which itself is a historical site of international importance. The project will include the completion of the reconstruction of the second floor of the residential palace and the reconstruction of the Divanhane: Preparation of a concept and plan for the restoration as well as the ultimate use of the entire ensemble, and a more detailed project implementation plan for reconstruction of the second floor of the residential palace; For the Divanhane, carrying out of static investigations, documentation of existing damages; development of the restoration concept and a detailed plan for structural strengthening as needed, waterproofing of the roof, cleanup of the water damage, and cleaning of the stone surfaces and implementation of the approved restoration plan; and the purchase of materials and equipment for cleaning of the stone surfaces. -2 - Sheki Khan Palace of Khans 8. The Sheki Khan Palace of Khans is located in Sheki, the most ancient city in Azerbaijan. One of the most unique features of the palace is the large number of stained glass windows, which were put together without the use of glue or nails, a construction technique known as the shabaka method. Inside, the walls and ceilings in many of the rooms are covered with detailed paintings of cultural and historic importance. The Palace is surrounded by a rock wall enclosing a landscaped garden. 9. The restoration of Sheki Palace will include: A static engineering assessment of the palace, which would examine the stability of the building and focus on the impact of the removal of the concrete brace will have on the structural soundness of the building. It would also include an assessment of the risk of damage during earthquakes and provide recommendations for an alternative to the concrete brace; Monitoring of humidity in the rooms and moisture in the walls for at least one year; Detailed study of the paintings to determine the number of layers, types of materials used, etc. so that the binding to each layer is known, and restoration options can be identified; Development of a restoration concept for the palace as a whole, including removal of the concrete brace, restoration of the building, windows, paintings, and the grounds; Removal of the concrete brace, with minimum damage to the existing interior and exterior surfaces, installation of a replacement brace, humidity and moisture control systems and restoration of damaged woodwork; Restoration of woodworking and interior wall paintings; and Purchase of woodworking tools. Karabaglar Mausoleum and Twin Minarets 10. This site is located in the village of Karabaglar, about 40 kilometers north of Nakhichivan city, in the autonomous region of Nakhichivan. The site contains two monuments, a mausoleum and twin minarets, in a very pastoral setting in the village. Both structures are outstanding examples of the monument styles of the famed 12th century architect Ajemi Nakhchevani. The twin minarets were built in the 12th century, and included a portal between them, a style first developed by Ajemi. The mausoleum was built in 1333-35, and contained cornices with scripts from the Koran in stylized Arabic writing using glazed turquoise bricks and tiles around the top of the monument and over each of the four portals. 11. The minarets have large cracks which need structural stabilization. In the early 1990s, a building enclosing the minarets and portal was constructed, to provide some support to the base of the minarets. However, no work has been done to stabilize the towers. The cornices of the mausoleum are largely destroyed. Much of the surface brickwork of the mausoleum has been repaired. The cupola was rebuilt, but there are still problems with water damage. There are no current, detailed designs for their restoration or the overall management of the site. Restoration of the mausoleum and the twin minarets will involve: The design and implementation of a plan for re-enforcement and structural stabilization of the twin minarets. The openings at the top of each tower need to be closed and the tops capped, to prevent further water damage. Investigations of the foundation of the minarets are needed, to determine if - 3 - additional structural stabilization is required; For the mausoleum, repair of the cupola to prevent water damage, re- construction of the known script of the top cornice, and preservation of the existing materials. The remaining scripts and materials will be protected from further deterioration; and Landscaping of the site grounds, construction of kiosks, and preparation of brochures, etc. Momine Khatum Mausoleum 12. This mausoleum was designed by the famed architect Ajemi and built 1186, thus, as an original Ajemi structure, it is of particular architectural importance. It is located in the center of the city of Nakhichivan and has been restored as a national monument and is the symbol of the people and historical culture of the region. The site now consists of the mausoleum, an outside museum of stone carvings of animals, and a small museum inside the mausoleum. The importance of this monument to the people is demonstrated by the fact that the inside and outside museums were created and are maintained by volunteers without any support from the Government. 13. The mausoleum is leaning by about 11 degrees; the tilt of the structure can be readily observed. Although the building does not seem to be in imminent danger of collapse, it is important to obtain precise measurements of the rate of tilt in order to determine whether the building continues to move and further conservation measures are required. In addition, the cupola of the monument leaks and needs to be repaired, vegetation growing on the roof needs to be removed, and the cupola needs to be cleaned. The restoration of this monument will involve the following activities: Monitoring of the rate of leaning over a period of three years; and Cleaning and waterproofing of the roof, including small repairs as needed. Technical Assistance 14. The most important issue the proposed project addresses is to raise the skill levels of key staff in the agencies involved in the preservation of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage: Study tours will be organized for senior staff involved in the conservation and restoration of historical monuments during which they would visit leading institutions and agencies responsible for preservation of cultural monuments in Europe and other regions. Training of technical and scientific specialists in preservation and conservation techniques. Training of craftsmen in preservation and conservation methods by bringing in experienced masonry/stone restoration craftsmen to work side-by-side with local craftsmen during implementation of the Divanhane restoration project. Technical assistance during the phases of project planning, preparation of bid documents, implementation, and documentation. Acquisition of equipment and hiring of contract staff to develop a computerized inventory of important documents. As part of this project, the Government would provide additional funding to intensify the ongoing public awareness program. This program will involve the media and NGOs. Financing 15. The project would be financed by an IDA credit of $7.5 million - 4 - equivalent and a Government contribution of $1.4 million equivalent. In addition, the credit will finance technical assistance that will help the Committee in developing partnerships with NGOs and international donors. Implementation 16. The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers for the Restoration and Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments would be responsible for executing the project. The Committee has a design institute, regional centers for conservation, restoration and production institutes and workshops. It is headed by a Chairman with two Deputy Chairmen and has a total staff of 500 people. 17. The project will be implemented through a Project Implementation Unit (PIU), which will be organizationally located at the Committee and headed by the First Deputy Chairman, who has extensive experience in the conservation and restoration of historical and cultural monuments in the country. The chief executive of the PIU, designated as Project Coordinator, and his staff will be responsible for the overall implementation of the project, including the institutional development program. The PIU will set up sub-units at each of the three regional offices of the Committee in Baku, Sheki and Nakhichivan responsible for monitoring the implementation of the subcomponents in their respective regional areas The PIU will have officers for project management and coordination, procurement, financial management, progress monitoring, and partnership building. The PIU will have an expatriate consultant to assist it in implementing, monitoring and evaluation of the project. Financing will be provided for a procurement specialist for the first year of project implementation. In parallel, procurement training will be provided for the procurement officer. An oversight committee, with representation from the President's office, Parliament, Ministry of Culture, Academy of Sciences, NGOs and the public will be established to provide policy guidance, facilitate coordination, and oversee implementation. Sustainability 18. The project has been designed to incorporate strategies that will facilitate the sustainability of the Government's efforts to restore and preserve historical sites and cultural heritage in Azerbaijan. The main elements of these strategies are: strengthening the capacity of the Committee to implement a comprehensive program for the restoration and preservation of historical and cultural sites; updating the skills of restorers and workmen; and support in establishing partnerships with private corporations and international donors. Lessons learned from past operations in the country/sector 19. Support for cultural heritage is a relatively recent initiative in the Bank. It is therefore too early to draw lessons from similar projects in this sector. However, lessons from the preparation and early implementation of the Georgia Cultural Heritage LIL provide useful indications. These include: project implementation units should be established as soon as possible; the project design should be kept simple to ensure timely implementation; PIU staff needs to receive training in areas that are critical for achieving the project objectives; -5- community involvement and stakeholder participation is critical for building ownership; and efforts to build partnerships with the private sector and other international organizations involved in the preservation of cultural heritage is the key for sustainability. Environmental Aspects 20. An assessment was carried out during the preparation of the project to ascertain whether the reconstruction of the selected monuments would create any adverse environmental impacts. It was found that no chemicals will be used in the cleaning of the monuments; and that most of the on-site construction work would involve the use of traditional methods and materials which do not produce any hazardous wastes; overall current practices of handling and disposal of construction wastes are adequate; the sites are small and all are separated from the surrounding area by walls. 21. Potentially adverse environmental concerns stem primarily from the increased traffic to transport raw materials from the quarry and the noise and dust involved in the cutting of the stones at the restoration sites. The only site where traffic material deliveries will be of concern is in the reconstruction of the Shirvanshah Palace, where stones from a quarry that is about 60 kilometers from the site will delivered throughout the construction period. However, the frequency of deliveries will be low, and will not contribute significantly to air pollution. Noise and dust from the cutting of stones at the site will have a very localized impact. Agreement will be sought with the implementing agency to install dust suppression equipment and to conduct this work only during normal working hours. The quarry from where the stones for the reconstruction of the Shirvanshah Palace are obtained is located about 60 km from Baku in a desert-like environment. The quarry which has provided the stones for the palace since the 15th century, is surrounded by numerous other quarries. It was ascertained that no people live in this area, and that the safety measures for the workers, cutting the stones, are adequate. Program Objective Categories 22. The program objective categories include: environmental protection and management and to a lesser degree, poverty alleviation and private sector development. Benefits and Risks 23. The benefits of the project include: The restored monuments will convey to visitors the important historical role of Azerbaijan in the region and, because of the location on the Silk Road, beyond the region. It will deepen the understanding of what it means to be Azerbaijani and, as such, contribute to social cohesion in the country. In addition, investments will lay the foundation for further restoration efforts. This project will directly benefit local communities at the sites in Sheki, Baku and Nakhichivan through additional employment arising from renovation work and the increase in tourism. Implementation of the project will expose the staff of the Committee to modern accounting, procurement and project management practices. The Bank's involvement in the restoration of these important monuments will facilitate the Committee's efforts to raise additional funds for other restoration - 6 - activities. A special effort will be made under the project to upgrade the skills of the people who actually carry out the physical restoration of the monuments. Together with the businesses in the local communities, they will be the primary financial beneficiaries. 24. The risks of the project include: Government fails to mount a public relations campaign for Azerbaijan's cultural sites. Failure to implement the new law for conservation and restoration of historical monuments Government does not maintain the current level of funding to the sector. Contact Point: The InfoShop The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone No. (202)458 5454 Fax No. (202) 522 1500 Peter Pollak, ECSEG The World Bank 1818 H Street N.W. Washington, DC 20433 Telephone No.: (202) 458-1065 Fax No.: (202) 477-7977 Note: This is information on an evolving project. Certain activities and/or components may not be included in the final project. This PID processed the week ending April 2, 1999. - 7- Annex Because this is a Category B project, it may be required that the borrower prepare a separate EA report. If a separate EA report is required, once it is prepared and submitted to the Bank, in accordance with OP 4.01, Environmental Assessment, it will be filed as an annex to the Public Information Document (PID) . If no separate EA report is required, the PID will not contain an EA annex; the findings and recommendations of the EA will be reflected in the body of the PID. -8-