The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni participated, in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, in the proceedings of the ” Partnership for Resilience ” Conference in support of Ukraine’s cultural sector, which was organized on 1-2 February, at the initiative of the Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Strategic Communication Mykola Tochytskyi.

The Conference, which was attended by EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef, Ministers of Culture of the EU Member States, Ministers of State representing friendly countries of Ukraine (United Kingdom, Japan, Montenegro), as well as representatives of international organisations such as UNESCO, coincided with the bombing the previous evening of the historic centre of Odessa, with the destruction of the historic Bristol Hotel and the Odessa Philharmonic building by Russian ballistic missiles. This event, in the most dramatic way, further highlighted the need to mobilise the international community to save Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, noted that Greece’s presence marks “a message of firm support and solidarity from the Greek Government to the Government of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. For three years, you have been waging a war, unjustly and unprovokedly imposed on you, to preserve your independence and national identity. In this struggle, Greece has stood by your side from day one and we will continue to do so – and not only because we see similarities between Ukraine and Cyprus.”

As the Minister stressed, “the fact that this conference, which brings together so many Ministers of Culture, is being held on Ukrainian soil is deeply symbolic: The ongoing war should not hinder international efforts to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage. It is a titanic task, which cannot wait for the end of hostilities. The international community has a moral obligation to take concerted action now to prevent the irreparable loss of cultural property. In this context, we fully support Ukraine’s initiatives to establish the Ukrainian Heritage Fund and the Platform for Recovery, as mentioned in the text of the Declaration, to strengthen the resilience of the cultural sector in Ukraine. While awaiting the detailed structuring of these initiatives, at this stage a strong demonstration of political will is paramount. That is why we are gathered here today and why we are signing the Declaration. The presence of almost all my colleagues from the European Union is further proof that the EU has a crucial role to play in coordinating our actions, especially when the EU is a world leader in the protection of cultural heritage.”

The Minister of Culture stressed that “Greece is willing to make a substantial contribution to the actions that will be selected, drawing on its many years of experience in the rescue, protection, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage“.

Lina Mendoni held a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, the Minister of Culture of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, reiterating, also in private, the messages of support expressed during the Conference, but also specific initiatives for the preservation and restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, as well as cooperation with the institutional cultural organisations of the two countries, such as that which has already been developed over the last three years between the Odessa Opera and Ballet with the Concert Hall, the State Orchestra and the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. The theft and illicit trafficking of Ukrainian cultural treasures looted by the invading forces were of particular concern to the two ministers. Finally, Lina Mendoni referred to the intention to purchase the historic building of the Society of Friendship in Odessa on behalf of the Greek State, as well as the modernization of the existing Museum.

The Minister met and held talks with representatives of the former Greek community of Mariupol, 2000 members of which settled in Uzhhorod after the occupation of the city by Russia, expressing Greece’s continued support.