WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the Christian denominations that administer the traditional site of Jesus's birth should have been consulted before the U.N. cultural agency listed the Church of the Nativity as a World Heritage site.
UNESCO took the emergency action at the urging of Palestinians, who celebrated the listing of the basilica in Bethlehem as a step forward in their quest for global recognition of an independent Palestine.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said such emergency actions usually are taken only when a site is in imminent danger.
She also noted that the Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox custodians of the Church of the Nativity were not properly consulted. The Christian denominations had opposed the World Heritage listing, fearing UNESCO meddling in church affairs.
Nuland said the U.S is "profoundly disappointed" at what appeared to be "a political move."
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%@AP Links
230-a-09-(Victoria Nuland, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-"and they weren't"-State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says UNESCO declared the Church of the Nativity a World Heritage site over the objections of Christians who administer the Bethlehem basilica. (2 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *230 (07/02/12)>> 00:09 "and they weren't"
229-a-11-(Victoria Nuland, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-"World Heritage site"-State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the U.N.'s cultural agency shouldn't have rushed its decision on the traditional site of Jesus's birth. (2 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *229 (07/02/12)>> 00:11 "World Heritage site"
231-a-12-(Victoria Nuland, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-"thought out move"-State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the World Heritage designation was granted under an emergency procedure that's usually used only for sites in imminent danger. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (2 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *231 (07/02/12)>> 00:12 "thought out move"
232-a-08-(Victoria Nuland, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-"in this case"-State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the U.S. is disappointed in the way the Church of the Nativity was designated a World Heritage site. (2 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *232 (07/02/12)>> 00:08 "in this case"
228-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland)--U.S. officials say the Christian denominations that administer the traditional site of Jesus?s birth should have been consulted before the U.N. cultural agency listed the Church of the Nativity as a World Heritage site. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (2 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *228 (07/02/12)>> 00:33
