President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks in the Chernihiv region with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay who is on a visit to our country.
The Ukrainian President noted the importance of UNESCO's solidarity with the people of Ukraine amid full-scale Russian aggression.
"Thank you for the real results of your work and support for Ukraine. We are fighting on the battlefield for the values of democracy, our freedom and independence, for the future of our children, as well as for our historical values and cultural heritage. It is very important to protect them," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The proof of solidarity of this international organization with Ukraine was, in particular, the establishment of its institutional presence in our country - the creation of a UNESCO Liaison Office in Kyiv.
The parties noted the importance of Ukraine's membership in UNESCO, which has been ongoing for 69 years and is characterized by active international cooperation in the scientific, educational and cultural spheres.
The President separately emphasized the inadmissibility of Russia's membership in UNESCO and the importance of a clear and powerful response by the organization and its bodies to the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Audrey Azoulay about the Ukrainian cultural objects destroyed and damaged by Russia, stressing that their total number is about 1190, as well as about the theft and illegal removal of Ukrainian cultural values from the temporarily occupied territories.
In this context, the President emphasized the importance of UNESCO's leadership role in involving international partners in restoring the damaged cultural heritage of Ukraine.
The Head of State highly appreciated UNESCO's help in implementing a number of projects in our country, in particular, in ensuring the continuity of education and the mental health program implemented under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine.
During the meeting, Audrey Azoulay handed over to the Head of State a certificate on the inclusion of the historic center of the city of Odesa in the the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Expressing gratitude for the decision regarding Odesa, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of including other Ukrainian cultural heritage sites in the UNESCO list, in particular the historical center of Chernihiv.
