The Russian chairmanship of the organization devalues the institution itself, the Ukrainian president said, adding that Russia has been marked by a lot of destruction and damage to cultural and educational institutions in Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Russia to be expelled from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because of the massive destruction and damage it has caused to cultural and educational institutions in Ukraine. This was stated in Zelensky’s address to UNESCO on Tuesday, October 11.
“Dear defenders and defenders of the educational, scientific and cultural achievements of mankind! Please tell me why the representatives of Russia are still with you? What are they doing at UNESCO? How can there be representatives of a UNESCO terrorist state proud of the destruction behind you in other countries,” he said.
Zelensky emphasized that a terrorist state definitely has no right to lead one of the main bodies for the protection of culture and natural heritage – the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. He noted that the Russian presidency undermines the institution itself – its weight, its reputation.
“The terrorist state must be excluded from all UNESCO bodies and from the organization itself. Let it be a historical example for everyone in the world that no one will tolerate an enemy of culture, an enemy of history, a enemy of education, an enemy of science,” the president said.
Zelensky noted that Russia has destroyed or damaged more than 2,600 educational facilities in Ukraine through terrorist strikes.
It should be reminded that earlier the 45th session of UNESCO was planned to be held in Kazan, Russia. However, the parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention signed an open letter refusing to participate in the meeting because of Russia’s systematic violation of international humanitarian law in Ukraine.
And in May, Russia was not allowed to attend the UNESCO conference.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.