The United Nations' cultural agency, UNESCO, has designated the historic center of Odesa, a strategic port city on Ukraine's Black Sea coast, a World Heritage in Danger site, despite Russian opposition.
On Wednesday January 25, the World Heritage Committee on Wednesday decided to inscribe the Historic Centre of Odesa (Ukraine) on the World Heritage List. This decision reportedly recognizes the outstanding universal value of the site and the duty of all humanity to protect it.
Under the terms of the World Heritage Convention, the 194 States Parties of the Convention commit not to undertake any deliberate step that may directly or indirectly damage the World Heritage site and to assist in its protection, says a statement released by UN cultural agency on January 25.
The Historic Center of Odesa has reportedly also been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, which gives it access to reinforced technical and financial international assistance, which Ukraine may request so as to ensure the protection of the property and, if necessary, assist in its rehabilitation.
In view of 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, the statement says, noting that as early as the summer of 2022, UNESCO linked international experts with Ukrainian experts to prepare the nomination, with the support of Italy and Greece.
Meanwhile, Russia reportedly criticized the move, saying it was "politically motivated".
The Voice of America (VOA) says the 21 member states of UNESCO’s world heritage committee approved inscribing designated areas of the city with six votes in favor, one against and 14 abstentions.
“Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February last year, tried repeatedly to delay the vote to recognize the site's "outstanding universal value" and "the duty of all humanity to protect it,” VOA notes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused Ukraine of submitting a poor application dossier and claimed the vote had been taken "under pressure from the West" while "disregarding the rules of procedure". "It was prepared hastily, without respecting the current high standards of UNESCO," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on January 25.
