The United Nations is considering which new sites should be
added to its World Heritage List. Bam is thought likely to be
added to the Heritage list The 48 proposals include what could
become North Korea's first entry on the list - a complex of
dynastic tombs. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, is also
discussing how to protect its existing sites at its annual
meeting in the ancient Chinese city of Suzhou. A top Unesco
official said development posed an even bigger threat to world
heritage than war or natural disaster. "What is most important
at the moment is the very, very big urban development... which
in many cases is made without proper respect for historical
sites," said Mounir Bouchnaki, assistant director general of
Unesco. In a nod to the conference hosts, he said China faced an
especially serious challenge because of the construction
accompanying its rapid development. One of the sites thought
likely to be placed on the list of culturally or naturally
important places this year is the Iranian city of Ba