LOC22:42
19:42 GMT
PARIS, July 3 (KUNA) -- The UN Education, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) has added three Arab or Arab-influenced sites, spanning from Saudi Arabia to Italy, to its World Heritage list of prized sites, a statement said on Friday.
The World Heritage Committee is currently meeting at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris to review submissions to be included on the World Heritage Site list.
The latest decisions concern Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Sicily, Italy.
The Saudi Kingdom's heritage was recognised for the "Rock Art work in the Hail Region," where the site includes two components situated in a desert landscape: Jebel Umm Sinman at Jubbah and the Jebal Al-Manjor and Raat at Shuwaymis," UNESCO indicated.
The UN body also recognised an Arab-Norman structure and religious site in Montreale, northern Sicily, where several buildings and structures combine in a synthesis of Western, Islamic and Byzanthine cultures and co-existencce.
The third site recognised Friday is located in Al-Maghtas in Jordan and is on the Dead Sea.
Known as "Bethany Beyond the Jordan," the archaeological site consists of two distinct areas: Tell Al-Kharrar, also known as Jebal Mar-Elias, and the area of the churches of Saint John the Baptist near the river, where it is believed to be the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist. (end)
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