ALBAWABA - UNESCO has placed the Ukrainian city of Odesa on its heritage list as a place of many historical 'universal' sites.
Last Wednesday's decision by UNESCO's top body, its World Heritage Committee, stated its crucially important to protect the port city of Odesa, and ensure its not subjected to incoming Russian missiles.
The French MFA @MinColonna visited Ukraine for the 4th time since the invasion, this time in #Odesa. The city has just been added to UNESCO World heritage list. https://t.co/8StwKDz0tj
— Marie Jourdain (@MarieJourdain10) January 26, 2023
The southern port city has frequently been embroiled in the Russian-Ukraine conflict with start of the war on the country by Moscow since Feb. 24, 2022.
"Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature and the arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community," said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, welcoming the inscription as quoted in Anadolu.
"Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature and the arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community." -Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO's Director-General.https://t.co/oYJqrCetJ9
— GBH News (@GBHNews) January 26, 2023
"While the war continues, this inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always surmounted global upheavals, is preserved from further destruction,” Azoulay said.
A signatory to the World Heritage Convention together with 194 other states, Russia has used delaying tactics to stop the vote to include Odesa on UNESCO's danger list and in need of protection, but in the end failed.
Historic centre of #Ukraine's port city of Odesa designated an endangered World Heritage site by #UNESCO, despite Russia repeatedly trying to delay the vote. UNESCO members including Russia, mustn't "bring deliberate destruction" to the World Heritage site https://t.co/Qu3IB7bcow
— Glasnost Gone (@GlasnostGone) January 26, 2023
The new vote commits signatories not to undertake any deliberate steps that may directly, or indirectly damage the World Heritage site and to assist in its protection. The vote also allows UNESCO to give international assistance, protection of its property and help in its rehabilitation.
Its estimated that more than 400 "cultural objects" in Ukraine were seriously damaged during the war.
A historic decision was made by the @UNESCO World Heritage Committee to add the historical center of the port city of #Odesa to the List of World Heritage in #Danger. More than 400 objects of material cultural heritage in Ukraine were seriously damaged or destroyed by Russia. pic.twitter.com/RkedbXTaFr
— ANTS (@ANTS_NGO) January 25, 2023
