United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'éducation, la science et la culture 7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP Tel. : + 33.(0) 1.45.68.15.71 Fax : + 33 (0) 1.45.68.55.70 E-mail: f.bandarin@unesco.org (cc: n.dhumal@unesco.org) Paris, 21 May 2003 Ref. CL/WHC.7A/03 (WHC/32/12) Circular letter to all NGOs and IGOs Subject : Change of venue for the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO Headquarters, from 30 June - 5 July 2003. Madam/Sir, I refer to the invitation letter you received from Mr A. Sayyad, Assistant Director-General for External Affairs and Cooperation, dated 21 February 2003, inviting a representative of your organisation to participate in the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee. This session had been scheduled to take place in Suzhou, China. Due to unforeseen and exceptional circumstances, the venue has now been changed and the meeting will take place in UNESCO Headquarters, Room XII, from 30 June to 5 July 2003. The working languages of the Committee are English and French and simultaneous interpretation will be provided in those two languages. We are encouraging participants to pre-register electronically if they plan to attend the meeting on wh-register@unesco.org or by fax, (+33 (0)1 4568 5570). My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming your representative at the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. Francesco Bandarin Director, UNESCO World Heritage Centre