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| Causeway bid not backed by Unesco | Causeway bid not backed by Unesco |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| World Heritage body Unesco has rejected claims it backed private developer Seymour Sweeney's bid for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway. | World Heritage body Unesco has rejected claims it backed private developer Seymour Sweeney's bid for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway. |
| It had been reported that Ian Paisley had written a letter to the UK Heritage Lottery Fund in 2003 claiming Unesco backed the developer's bid. | It had been reported that Ian Paisley had written a letter to the UK Heritage Lottery Fund in 2003 claiming Unesco backed the developer's bid. |
| Mechtild Rossler, a senior Unesco official, clarified the situation. | |
| "We don't deal with private developers and I expressed that very clearly to Mr Sweeney," she said. | "We don't deal with private developers and I expressed that very clearly to Mr Sweeney," she said. |
| Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Ulster, Ms Rossler added: "Under the World Heritage Convention, we deal with governments and it's up to the governments to implement the decisions of the World Heritage Committee." | Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Ulster, Ms Rossler added: "Under the World Heritage Convention, we deal with governments and it's up to the governments to implement the decisions of the World Heritage Committee." |
| Statement | Statement |
| In his letter, Mr Paisley also took the fund to task for not awarding a grant to Mr Sweeney in his bid for the centre. | In his letter, Mr Paisley also took the fund to task for not awarding a grant to Mr Sweeney in his bid for the centre. |
| The SDLP has called on the first minister to make a statement to the assembly on the controversy. | The SDLP has called on the first minister to make a statement to the assembly on the controversy. |
| Assembly member John Dallat, said it could damage the assembly's executive. | Assembly member John Dallat, said it could damage the assembly's executive. |
| "The most recent revelation in the (Belfast) Telegraph has suggested the facts were not as they were," Mr Dallat said. | "The most recent revelation in the (Belfast) Telegraph has suggested the facts were not as they were," Mr Dallat said. |
| "The scheme by Mr Sweeney does not have the support of Unesco, does not have the support of the National Trust, does not have the support of the local councils. | "The scheme by Mr Sweeney does not have the support of Unesco, does not have the support of the National Trust, does not have the support of the local councils. |
| "So really, I think there is an issue about democracy here and the wish of the people." | "So really, I think there is an issue about democracy here and the wish of the people." |
| The previous visitors' centre burned down in 2000. | The previous visitors' centre burned down in 2000. |
| The Giants Causeway, renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year. | The Giants Causeway, renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year. |