Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that the historic center of the city of Odessa, known for its architecture and history, will receive UNESCO World Heritage status. “Target of Russian bombings”..
Within the framework of the Executive Council of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the President of Ukraine addressed the 58 member states of the Council in a pre-recorded video message to formalize this candidacy.
Odessa, a Black Sea port city known especially for its monumental stairs and its historic center, is a strategic point of conflict. It was shelled several times by Russian forces. “We must send a clear signal that the world will not turn a blind eye to the destruction of our common history, our common culture, our common heritage.launched by Vladimir Zelensky. One of the steps should be to preserve the historic center of Odessa – a beautiful city, an important port on the Black Sea and a source of culture for millions of people in different countries.”.
Zelensky explained that he sent the application file to UNESCO, whose headquarters is located in Paris. “Odessa, like all other cities of Ukraine, is a target of Russian bombings. Please support Odessa. Show at the level of UNESCO that Russian terrorism must be stopped.”he urged.
“540 is the total number of cultural heritage sites, cultural institutions and religious monuments damaged by Russian bombing in Ukraine since the start of the war on February 24.”condemned by the President of Ukraine.
In a press release, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay states that “The center of the port city of Odessa, a melting pot of exchanges and immigrants, was built by many influences. It carries a legacy and history that resonates around the world and is a powerful symbol..
The application file will be evaluated “From the next session of the World Heritage Committee”. which will be “Responsibility for determining this candidacy”adds the press release, without specifying a date.
This is reported by UNESCO in Ukraine“To date, none of the Ukrainian cultural sites that benefit from the protection of UNESCO under the inscription on the World Heritage List have been bombed.”.
Source: Le Figaro
