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The governments of Ukraine and Croatia will strengthen and intensify cooperation in the protection, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage.
The ministers of culture of both countries agreed on this during a meeting, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine reports, the Gaze informed.
As noted, Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi discussed with his Croatian counterpart Nina Obuljen-Korzinek the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, which continues to be destroyed by Russian aggression.
He thanked the Croatian government for its support and solidarity with Ukraine. In particular, he expressed his gratitude for participating in international initiatives aimed at preserving cultural heritage, including the Vilnius Call to Action for the Restoration of Ukraine’s Cultural Sector, which has already brought together more than 40 countries.
‘Ukraine greatly appreciates Croatia’s support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people in this struggle for our existence. Croatia’s experience in protecting cultural heritage during armed conflicts is extremely important for us,’ Točytskyi said.
The Croatian Minister of Culture and Media, for her part, stressed her readiness to provide comprehensive support and share her experience in the protection, return and restoration of cultural heritage sites.
According to her, from the first days of the war started by Russia, the entire Croatian people ‘sincerely and wholeheartedly support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression’.
‘We understand that the real goal of this war is to destroy your national identity,’ Obuljen-Korzinek said.
The ministers discussed concrete steps to strengthen the coordination of international efforts to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage from the effects of war.
As The Gaze previously reported, 1169 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops.
