Arbroath Abbey – International Significance.

Arbroath Abbey – International Significance.

1. The Declaration of Arbroath was signed at Arbroath Abbey on 6th April 1320. Signatories included King Robert I – “the Bruce”. The Declaration was sent to the Pope in Avignon and set out the case for the Independence of Scotland.

2. The Declaration is acknowledged as one of the foundations of the American Declaration of Independence.

3. In 1998 The US Senate passed resolution 155 which recognised the influence of the Declaration of Arbroath on the Declaration if Independence.

4. The Abbey was founded in 1178 by William the Lion, King of Scots an dedicated to Thomas Beckett who was killed by Henry II at Canterbury Cathedral – A World Heritage Site. Reforms to applications to be a World Heritage Site:

5. UNESCO is seeking to ensure a wider range of countries are able to see their world heritage sites recognised.

6. The UK Government, in consulting on these changes, has suggested options including closing the list of potential world heritage sites in the UK

7. Other Scottish sites seeking World Heritage status include the Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland.

8. Resolutions to SNP conference recognising World Heritage Day (Saturday 18th April), Scottish Heritage Sites, and warning of the proposed reforms are below: SCOTLAND’S WORLD HERITAGE SITES Conference notes that 18th April 2009 is World Heritage Day.

Conference welcomes the decision by Clydesdale Bank to produce commemorative banknotes to mark the Year of Homecoming, which feature all five of Scotland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites: St Kilda, Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, Neolithic Orkney, New Lanark and the Antonine Wall.

Conference welcomes the excellent work being done by local committees to promote applications from other sites, including the flow country in Caithness and Sutherland, and the world famous Arbroath Abbey - home of the Declaration of Scottish Independence; expresses concern at the current review being carried out by the UK Department of Culture media and Sport which may end or substantially reduce the number of applications going forward, and believes such a move would be ill considered and highly damaging.

Conference believes that management and future development of Scotland’s World Heritage Sites can best be achieved by Scotland being an independent member of UNESCO.

Conference encourages the Scottish Government to continue supporting our World Heritage Sites as places which promote tourism, education and culture.