On February 1-2, Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and President of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, took part in Ukraine's first international culture conference, "Cooperation for Resilience," held in Uzhhorod and organized by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
During the panel discussion "National and International Sanctions: Countering the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property," Deputy Minister Betsa emphasized Ukraine's diplomatic efforts to strengthen international cooperation in protecting and preserving cultural heritage in the context of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
"Cultural genocide is an integral part of Russia's strategy to erase Ukraine's national identity. Therefore, international sanctions against the aggressor state must be further intensified. Russia must bear full responsibility for its crimes, including those against Ukraine's cultural heritage," stated Mariana Betsa.
She also stressed that the complete isolation of Russia and the termination of any cooperation with it by states and international organizations in joint projects are among necessary steps required to demonstrate that the world stands against aggression. A country committing crimes against humanity has no place in the international community.
Furthermore, Mariana Betsa underscored the significance of international collaboration in protecting Ukraine's cultural heritage, preventing its illegal appropriation and destruction, and informed conference participants about Ukraine's initiatives within UNESCO aimed at strengthening legal mechanisms to hold Russia accountable for its attacks on Ukrainian cultural sites. She also called on international partners to support Ukraine's candidacy in the upcoming elections to the UNESCO Executive Board.
On the sidelines of the conference, Deputy Minister Betsa held a series of bilateral meetings.
For reference: The "Cooperation for Resilience" Conference on Ukrainian Culture took place on February 1-2, 2025, in Uzhhorod. The event gathered Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Olena Kovalska, representatives of foreign governments, the European Commission, international organizations, and experts in cultural heritage protection. The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine organized the conference in cooperation with the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration, the Recovery Support Office, and UNESCO.
The conference focused on strengthening Ukraine's cultural sector's resilience, countering the illicit trafficking of cultural property, and integrating cultural heritage into the country's post-war recovery. As an outcome of the event, participants signed a Joint Declaration outlining key directions for further international cooperation.