Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the opening of the exhibition dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the USSR’s accession to UNESCO

Your Excellency,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

I am sincerely delighted to welcome you to the ceremony dedicated to the 70th anniversary of our country’s accession to UNESCO.

On April 21, 1954, Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom Yakov Malik signed the UNESCO Constitution on behalf of the USSR Government. This marked a significant milestone in strengthening the Organisation’s capacity as a truly universal platform. Luther Evans, the American Director-General of UNESCO at the time, expressed great satisfaction in a letter to Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov upon learning about the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics joining the Organisation. He noted that international cooperation in education, science, and culture was essential for enhancing the security and happiness of people. And he was absolutely right.

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic also became members of UNESCO almost simultaneously with the USSR. I would like to extend my congratulations on this anniversary to my Belarusian friends present here, for whom 2024 is also a year of anniversary celebration.

Our country has been a proactive and responsible member of UNESCO. Over the past seven decades, we have demonstrated our unwavering commitment to its ideals and principles. The provisions of the UNESCO Constitution on contributing “to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture” and fostering “intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind,” are not mere words on paper. They hold enduring value and significance for us.

Certainly, the Organisation, originally designed to promote equal international cooperation among states, has not been immune to certain challenges from the outset. These include a bias towards excessive influence from Western countries in its Secretariat. Given the turbulent state of world affairs, these tendencies are even more evident today. It is disheartening to witness the manipulation of statutory provisions and rules of procedure, excessive politicisation, and the diversion of attention and resources from the Organisation’s mandated tasks. Regrettably, we must acknowledge the misuse of this platform for geopolitical purposes and unprecedented discrimination against Russian representatives seeking to work at UNESCO, who sometimes endure waits of over a year for visas. Such situations were unheard of even during the Cold War.

Nevertheless, UNESCO remains a unique and universally significant humanitarian organisation. Attempts to “cancel” Russia within UNESCO will fall flat and will ultimately damage the Organisation’s reputation and potential. Those who engage in such efforts act out of Russophobic and neo-colonial instincts, sacrificing the Organisation’s integrity. Our collective task, alongside countries constituting the Global Majority, is to preserve the mechanisms of cooperation that have been developed over decades. By joining forces, we can overcome the current crisis and redirect UNESCO towards promoting professional and mutually beneficial dialogue.

During the St Petersburg Cultural Forum in November 2023, President Vladimir Putin spoke about UNESCO sponsoring a number of significant projects in Russia. We have always been in favour of the Organisation increasing its contribution to the search for solutions to global problems. The USSR was the main driving force within UNESCO during the campaign for the elimination of colonialism, neo-colonialism, and racism. Moscow stood at the source of many programme bodies, including the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Russia was active in encouraging the emergence and development of several most important programmes that remain relevant to this day. These include the International Programme for the Development of Communication and the Man and the Biosphere Programme. The first Congress on Biosphere Reserves convened in Minsk in 1983. In 2003, the UNESCO General Conference established the International Basic Sciences Programme, as proposed by Russia. The Government of the Russian Federation advanced the initiative to establish the Dmitri Mendeleev International Prize for achievements in the field of basic sciences, the biggest award on the UNESCO platform to date.

With its unique language policy expertise, our country plays a prominent role in implementing the 2022-2032 International Decade of Indigenous Languages programme. Russian experts are contributing to the understanding of ethical implications of cutting-edge technological achievements, including artificial intelligence and neurotechnology.

Cooperation with the Russian corporate sector is yielding important results. For instance, since 2013, the PhosAgro Company has been implementing the Green Chemistry for Life grant programme in partnership with UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. This initiative aims to support talented young scientists, with a focus on individuals from the Global South and East.

These are only a few of many examples of our mutually beneficial cooperation.

In our country, a representative Commission for UNESCO operates efficiently, serving as a platform that brings together federal and regional authorities, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, universities, museums, nature reserves, media outlets, research institutes, schools, and the creative intelligentsia.

In our practical work, we consistently prioritise advancement of a unifying agenda based on a balance of interests and the preservation of cultural sovereignty. Russia’s commitment to upholding the statutory powers of the Organisation is shared by the overwhelming majority of member states. We are committed to boosting the capacities of developing countries within UNESCO’s terms of reference, including as part of Priority Africa.

We extend our gratitude to the TASS information agency for their collaboration in organising today’s exhibition and for providing the photographs that reflect the rich history of our interaction with UNESCO spanning seven decades. History springs to life before our own eyes.

Special words of appreciation go to our Ministry’s Department of History and Records for their invaluable contribution to filling the exhibition with photographs and documents that serve as tangible evidence of that era. The exhibition will be displayed throughout the anniversary year at the square in front of the TASS building, as well as at the UNESCO headquarters.

The programme for today’s festive event features the cancellation of a stamp block created for the 70th anniversary of the Marka Company, with support from the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media. These philatelic items showcase Russian World Heritage sites. We fully support this commendable initiative, which underscores our dedication to the principles outlined in the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

In conclusion, I would like to recall the words of Alexander Kuznetsov, head of the Soviet delegation at the 10th session of the General Conference in 1958 (the then first deputy minister of culture of the USSR): “Let the word ‘peace’ shine as an eternal star at UNESCO, this crossroads of ideas.” The Russian Federation is seeking to put these words into practice, opposing attempts to play havoc with our Organisation’s mission and dim the brightness of this star. We will not allow this.

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It appears that all the right words have been spoken. We remain committed to the principles laid down by the Founding Fathers and Mothers at the inception of this fine Organisation. I am confident that UNESCO will weather the current challenging times, marked by widespread attempts to  preserve domination and neo-colonial agendas, including  in matters related to mankind’s  historical heritage and artistic achievements of different civilisations, including on the  platform of this Organisation. UNESCO will return to its sources and its mission that meets the interests of all civilisations, countries, peoples, cultures, and religions without exception.

To UNESCO, and to all those who cherish its ideals and will take these ideals forward to the generations to come!