On June 6 and 7, German Minister of State for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth, and her team visited Odesa at the invitation of Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. This is the first representative of the German government to visit the city since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine. The politician expressed full support for Ukraine in its cultural development, aspirations and real actions to preserve cultural heritage.
“Ukrainian cultural heritage is a part of the world’s heritage. That is why humanity must be responsible for its preservation. It is one thing to read about the war in Ukraine, and absolutely another to see it with your own eyes. Now I see that putin is fighting against your culture, against your identity. This means that the war is being waged against the entire cultural democratic world. When culture is destroyed, democracy has no longer a voice. That is why we must oppose this together,” said Claudia Roth, Germany’s Minister of Culture and Media, during the visit.
During the visit, the delegation visited the historical center of Odesa, the Odesa Film Studio, the Odesa Regional Philharmonic, the Odesa City Council, the Odesa State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and the Odesa National Scientific Library.
“We have resolved many important and urgent issues. Ms. Roth was impressed by our cultural heritage, the way we protect and save it from the war, the way we fight to preserve it. Therefore, the Minister of State assured that Germany will support the inclusion of Odesa in the main list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the accelerated procedure. This is a very important step in solidarity and security. Europe has not been able to close the skies of Ukraine, then at least it will be able to protect Odesa in a unique way. The Ministry plans to submit a dossier for accelerated inclusion in the UNESCO list in July. Currently, together with the Odesa City Hall, we are preparing a dossier and hope for a speedy procedure, which, in fact, will be a precedent”, said Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
Participants of the visit also focused on strengthening sanctions against russia, especially on disinformation, and discussed German assistance to Ukraine in the cultural sphere – it was agreed to allocate funds for digitalization and preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and the restoration of the Odesa Regional Philharmonic.
In addition, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine will take part in the meeting of G7 Ministers of Culture, which will take place on June 26-28.
“Claudia Roth invited me to take part in the G7 ministerial meeting in late June. We will raise the issue of combating misinformation and preserving the cultural heritage of Ukraine. I want all G7 ministers to understand that Ukraine and related security issues with it, are integral parts of the global world, and we must solve problems together,” added Oleksandr Tkachenko.
