On 20 May in Paris, Sergii Bieliaiev, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, held a meeting with Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture.
The meeting provided an opportunity for a constructive discussion on key areas of cooperation between Ukraine and UNESCO in protecting cultural heritage, particularly in light of the ongoing armed aggression by the russian federation.
The Ukrainian side expressed its deep appreciation for UNESCO’s continued support and highlighted the active role of the UNESCO Office in Kyiv.
Sergii Bieliaiev also shared information about Ukraine’s participation in the Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention, emphasizing the importance of international legal instruments in the recovery of cultural property illicitly trafficked from Ukraine. These mechanisms have already helped other countries restore their cultural artifacts, and Ukraine hopes they will be effectively used to return its own heritage items.
Special attention was given to Ukraine’s initiative to create a Virtual museum of stolen cultural property, which will showcase cultural artefacts unlawfully taken by the russian federation since 2022.
The Deputy Minister also called on UNESCO to support the establishment of a UNESCO Chair on Cultural Heritage in Emergency at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. This initiative aims to strengthen academic capacity and promote resilience in the protection of cultural heritage during crises.
Both sides explored ways to deepen cooperation, including professional exchange programmes, internships for Ukrainian restorers and students, and the important role of the newly established UNESCO Cultural Hub in Lviv in supporting the preservation and recovery of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
Ernesto Ottone reaffirmed UNESCO’s interest in learning from Ukraine’s experience in protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict. He noted that this expertise offers valuable insights for the international community and could position Ukraine as a leading voice in heritage protection under wartime conditions.
