Within the framework of the 224th session of the UNESCO Executive Board, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Chairperson of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO Mariana Betsa held a number of meetings at UNESCO Headquarters.

In particular, she met with UNESCO Deputy Director-General Xing Qu; Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Tawfik Jelassi; President of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UNESCO and Ambassador of Bangladesh to France Khondker Talha; Chairperson of the UNESCO Executive Board, Permanent Representative of Qatar to UNESCO and Ambassador Nasser bin Hamad Al-Hanzab; as well as representatives of the delegations of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and other delegations.

During the meetings, Mariana Betsa drew attention to the devastating consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine for all areas within UNESCO’s mandate, including education, culture, science, and media. Particular attention was paid to the Russian strike against the historic centre of Lviv on 24 March 2026, a UNESCO World Heritage site under enhanced protection by the Organization.

Mariana Betsa stressed that such attacks by the Russian Federation are systemic in nature and constitute part of Russia’s deliberate policy aimed at destroying Ukraine’s cultural heritage. She underscored the need for more decisive action by UNESCO to ensure Russia’s accountability.

During the meetings, Mariana Betsa also expressed gratitude to UNESCO for the support provided under the UNESCO Emergency Assistance Programme for Ukraine and emphasised the importance of maintaining assistance to Ukraine, including monitoring the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, on the Organization’s agenda.

The Deputy Minister also drew the attention of her interlocutors to the initiative to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, which Ukraine is promoting within the framework of the 224th session of the UNESCO Executive Board as an important contribution to UNESCO’s work.

The delegation of Ukraine continued its work within the agenda of the 224th session of the UNESCO Executive Board.