During the ongoing 46th session in New Delhi, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee voted to accept resolutions backed by Kyiv as they protected Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites against war. The documents relate to the conservation of Odesa Historic Centre; Lviv – The Ensemble of the Historic Centre; and St. Sophia Cathedral and related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk. The Russian Federation is urged by the resolutions not to take any step that can lead to direct or indirect damage on the property, its buffer zone and greater setting and Ukrainian cultural heritage at large.
Kazakhstan had submitted amendments to remove reference to Russia and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in these resolutions but they were defeated during a secret ballot vote among the 21 state parties present at this World Heritage Committee meeting which include India, Japan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Turkiye, Mexico ,Ukraine and Vietnam.
“There have been 1,085 cultural assets destroyed or damaged so far as a result of Russian aggression. Let me also note that it is not only historical sites but also other cultural institutions such as theaters art galleries etc.,” Anastasia Bondar noted while delivering her speech as deputy minister of culture and information policy of Ukraine heading Ukrainian delegation at this committee meeting.
From July 21-31 for the first time India is hosting World Heritage Committee Meeting. This committee meets every year and handles all matters concerning world heritage and determines sites to be listed under world heritage list. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the meet with emphasis on his country’s commitment towards promoting international cooperation for heritage conservation.
