The World Heritage Committee inscribed the Historic Center of Odessa, Ukraine on the World Heritage List.
Ukrainian President Zelensky made the pitch for Odesa to become an official World Heritage site in October 2022 when he spoke to UNESCO online.
UNESCO agreed with Zelensky and decided:
As of the summer of 2022, UNESCO linked international experts with Ukrainian experts to prepare the nomination, with the support of Italy and Greece.
UNESCO recognizes the outstanding universal value of the site and the duty of all humanity to protect it.
The city center of Odessa with a million inhabitants is a true architectural masterpiece.
In 2008, the Odesa Opera House was named among the “11 outstanding sights of Eastern Europe” in Forbes magazine.
The monumental Potemkin Stairs, immortalized in the film Battleship Potemkin, lead to the port with the Vorontsov lighthouse. Parallel to the water runs the magnificent Primorsky Boulevard, a popular promenade with palaces and monuments.
WTN hero Ivan Liptuga was appointed acting director
After the inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage was formalized, Ivan Liptuga, head of the national tourism organization and former advisor to the minister, has become acting municipal director of culture, international cooperation and European integration.
Ivan Liptuga is a board member of the World Tourism Network and was awarded the title of Hero of Tourism by WTN in March 2022.
He wanted the world of tourism to shout about Ukraine.
Ivan’s appointment was signed by the mayor of Odesa, Gennady Trukhanov.
“Russians have said for so long that they love our city and are proud of our cultural heritage.
But we saw their true face once again.
Like on February 24, when the rockets flew, then the statements of Russian politicians and now the opposition and resistance during the consideration of our application for admission to the UNESCO Main List”.
Odessa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov told eTurboNews
Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature and arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community. As the war continues, this inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always weathered global turmoil, is preserved from further destruction.
Audrey Azoulay Director General of UNESCO
Under the terms of the World Heritage Convention, the 194 States Parties to the Convention undertake not to take any deliberate step that may directly or indirectly damage the World Heritage site and help protect it.
Russia and Ukraine are members of UNESCO.
Odesa was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, which gives it access to enhanced international technical and financial assistance, which Ukraine can request to ensure the protection of the property and, if necessary, to help with rehabilitation her.
An accelerated procedure due to the war
Given the threats to the city since the beginning of the war, the World Heritage Committee has used an emergency procedure provided for in the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Convention. As of the summer of 2022, UNESCO linked international experts with Ukrainian experts to prepare the nomination, with the support of Italy and Greece.
UNESCO’s assessment bodies reviewed the nomination over the following weeks, allowing for a review at this week’s Extraordinary World Heritage Committee in Paris.
UNESCO puts emergency measures on the ground
In recent months, in parallel with the process of registering the Historic Center of Odesa on the World Heritage List, UNESCO implemented emergency measures on the ground to help protect the site.
UNESCO has particularly ensured the repair of damage caused to the Museum of Fine Arts in Odesa and the Museum of Modern Art in Odesa since the beginning of the war. The organization also provided equipment for the digitization of nearly 1,000 works of art and the documentary collection of the Odesa State Archives. Equipment was also delivered to protect buildings as well as open-air artworks.
These measures are part of UNESCO’s general action plan in Ukraine, which has already mobilized more than 18 million dollars for education, science, culture and information.
The mayor of Odesa comments on the appointment of Ivan Liptuga:
The appointment of Ivan Liptuga as interim director in charge of UNESCO’s achievements is a good step forward. Ivan is a well-known tourism professional in our city, in Ukraine and around the world.
