On November 3, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Chair of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO Mariana Betsa spoke at the plenary session of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which is underway in Samarkand (Uzbekistan).
On behalf of Minister Andrii Sybiha, Mariana Betsa thanked UNESCO for its active support of Ukraine in all areas of the Organisation's mandate amid the ongoing full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine: “While Russia continues to destroy our culture, cultural heritage, our monuments, ruin our schools, museums, theaters and universities, eliminate the media and kill our journalists, UNESCO stands with Ukraine and actively helps our state, and we highly appreciate this support.”
The Deputy Minister emphasized that, despite Russian aggression, Ukraine continues to selflessly defend the fundamental values of UNESCO. With the unprecedented and tragic experience gained in the difficult conditions of war, Ukraine is ready to make a significant contribution to the UNESCO's priorities.
Addressing the participants of the General Conference, Mariana Betsa renewed the call to the Member States of the Organisation to support Ukraine's candidacy in the elections to the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2025-2029, which will take place on November 7, 2025.
In this context, the Deputy Minister emphasized that Ukraine's priorities as a candidate for the Executive Board include, in particular: protecting cultural heritage in armed conflicts and other emergencies, universal access to education in emergency situations, engagement in science for sustainable development, the safety of journalists and scientists, climate change, support for UNESCO's Global Priority Africa, as well as support for small island states, gender issues, and youth.
Due to the active work of the Ukrainian delegation during the 43rd session, the decision “UNESCO Emergency Assistance Program for Ukraine” was adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes, and is extremely important for Ukraine, demonstrating the growing support for Ukraine in UNESCO.
In the course of the 43rd session, Mariana Betsa held bilateral meetings with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, the newly elected President of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, Khondker Mohammad Talha (Bangladesh), Andorra's Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor Faus, Switzerland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, Gambia's Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Habibatou Drammeh, Comoros’s Minister of Gender Promotion, Solidarity and Information Fatima Ahamada, Iceland’s Deputy Secretary of State Bergdis Ellertsdottir, Timor-Leste’s Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares, and with representatives of the delegations from Mauritania, France, Australia, Great Britain, Poland, and other countries. During the meetings, the parties discussed Ukraine's priorities at UNESCO, support for Ukraine in the elections to the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2025-2029, and the expansion of bilateral cooperation within the Organization.
The Ukrainian delegation continues its work at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which takes place in Samarkand from October 30 to November 13, 2025.