Foreign Ministry hosts a solemn event dedicated to the accession of Vitebsk to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

18-10-2018

On October 18, 2018 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus hosted a solemn event dedicated to the accession of Vitebsk to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

The Global Network of Learning Cities operates under the auspices of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (Hamburg, Germany) and unites 223 cities in 51 countries, which perceive lifelong education as a way to raise the standard of their citizens’ life. Vitebsk is the first Belarusian city to join the Network. 

The accession of Vitebsk to the Network is a benchmark event for the whole country, as well as the proof of the international recognition of the Vitebsk’s capacity to mobilize effectively its resources to foster sustainable development, flourishing of culture and social cohesion.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Kravchenko, the Deputy Minister of Education, Raisa Sidorenko, and the Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Viktor Nikolaykin, addressed the participants of the event.

During the event, Professor Choi Unsil, member of the Board of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, handed over the certificate of Global Network membership to Viktor Nikolaykin. 

The Deputy Head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry noted that Vitebsk obtaining this new status will help to build up the capacity of the city, the region and the local population. O.Kravchenko stressed that initiatives like this one make a significant contribution to expanding international cooperation in the area of education and culture, and promote friendship and mutual understanding between nations. 

O.Kravchenko awarded diplomas of the National Commission for UNESCO to the Country Director of the DVV International Belarus, Galina Veremejchuk, and the Deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Tatyana Starynskaya, for their assistance to Vitebsk on its’ path to gain status of a learning city. 

Among those in attendance at the event, hosted by the Ministry with the Vitebsk City Government and the Representative Office of the German Association of Folk Universities in Belarus (DVV International), were diplomats, representatives of international organizations, members of the National Commission for UNESCO, educators and members of the creative community. 

Participants had a chance to see the exhibition of contemporary Vitebsk artists and listen to classical music performed by Vitebsk musicians.

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