Russia must be excluded from all UNESCO bodies and organization itself – Zelensky

11.10.2022 22:00

Ukrinform

President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that Russia has no right to chair the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, because it devalues the institution itself, and called for its exclusion from all UNESCO bodies and from the organization itself.

He said this in his address to the participants of the 215th session of the UNESCO Executive Board, Ukrinform reports.

“Please tell me why the representatives of Russia are still among you? What are they doing at UNESCO? How can there be representatives of a terrorist state in UNESCO, which is proud of the destruction it causes in another country?” Zelensky said.

At the same time, he thanked UNESCO for supporting Ukraine at this time and for all the principled statements that were made to protect Ukraine and culture from Russian aggression.

“But still, new steps are needed - steps that Russia will feel. A terrorist state definitely has no right to chair one of the key bodies for the protection of cultural and natural heritage - the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Such a Russian presidency devalues the institution itself - its significance, its reputation. It is inadmissible to let Russia destroy the authority of UNESCO. 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, an enemy of education, an enemy of science,” Zelensky said.

He added “this is Russia's choice - to oppose everything that matters to humanity. This is its deliberate choice”.

As reported by Ukrinform, on October 10, Russia carried out a massive missile attack on Ukraine’s territory. 84 cruise missiles and 24 drones were launched. As a result of the strikes, critical infrastructure facilities were damaged, power supply and mobile communications were interrupted in some areas.