Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, during her two-day visit in Ukraine, visited the Chernihiv region. This is especially significant these days – the first anniversary of the de-occupation of the Chernihiv region.
During the visit in Chernihiv region, Audrey Azoulay held a meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko.
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 parties also 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.
Audrey Azoulay together with the Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko and the First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova also visited Secondary School № 27, where a large bomb shelter has been set up for classrooms and a partially destroyed architectural object of local importance – the regional youth creative hub, which was hit by a rocket in February 2022.
Then the delegation visited the famous Chernihiv Val (the Rampart).
During the visit, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy announced that the MCIP will prepare a nomination dossier for the inscription of the cultural landscape of the city of Chernihiv on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
“Chernihiv is one of our pearls, an ancient city with many historical sites and natural resources. In particular, Chernihiv Val (the Rampart) with the Transfiguration Cathedral and other churches of the 10th-11th centuries, complexes of the Troitsky and Yeletskyi monasteries. Chernihiv collegium, the building of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the regional historical museum – all this must be part of the world heritage. That’s why we are preparing a nomination dossier for inscription of the cultural landscape of Chernihiv on the UNESCO World Heritage List,” said Oleksandr Tkachenko.
The Minister also expressed hope for UNESCO’s help in rebuilding Chernihiv’s educational and cultural objects.
We will remind you that a year ago, russian invaders caused significant destruction in the territory of the Chernihiv region. According to the Chernihiv regional state Administration, the russian military has killed about 700 people, another 1,000 people have been injured.
