The World Heritage Committee praised Azerbaijan on Thursday for its efforts to preserve the walled city of Baku (Azerb. - Icheri Sheher), Xinhua reported.
  

The 21-member committee is currently holding its 33rd meeting in the Spanish city of Seville to revise the list of World Heritage Sites and consider the possibility of adding other places to the list.
  

Baku, with a history that dates back to the Paleolithic era, suffered serious damage in an earthquake in November 2000 and was placed in the committee's endangered list in 2003.
  

The committee had feared that urban development and the lack of a conservation policy were posing a threat to the restoration work of the old city.
  

However, considering the success in restoring key buildings such as the Maiden Tower and the the Shirvanshahs' Palace, the World Heritage Committee has decided to remove Baku from its endangered list.
  

The committee has also officially applauded the Azerbaijan authorities for their  efforts at the restoration and rebuilding work of the city.