Zelenskyy Introduces Bill On Moving Christmas Celebration In Ukraine From Jan 7 To Dec 25

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday introduced a bill to the Ukrainian parliament to move the Christmas Day celebrations in the country from January 7 to December 25 in order to "abandon the Russian legacy."

Kiev, UNESCO Agree To Take Christian Valuables Out Of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Ukraine and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have reached an agreement on taking out Christian valuables, including holy relics, from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and transfer them to Western countries, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Monday.

Kosovo calls on EU, US to intervene amid rising tensions with Serbia

Kosovo's foreign minister has written to his colleagues in the European Union, United States and other countries denouncing "numerous acts of provocation and aggression" from Serbia.

Serbia halts "provocative" train heading to Kosovo

Serbian train decorated with the national colors and plastered with icons and a nationalist slogan left Belgrade on Saturday for Kosovo, the former Serbian province, but was halted just before the border as tensions flared.

Serbia sends "provocative" train to Kosovo with words "Kosovo is Serbia" in 21 languages

Serbian authorities have sent a controversial train to north Kosovo, despite protests from its former province. The Russian-made train is inscribed with words "Kosovo is Serbia" in 21 languages, including Albanian.

Syria urges international community to work to stop looting Syrian cultural heritage

Director General of Antiquities and Museums Dr. Maamoun Abdul Karim called on the international community to help in the efforts to stop looting the Syrian cultural heritage by terrorist organizations and implement the UN Security Council Resolution 2199 on halting the funding obtained by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations.

Nepal reopens World Heritage sites 7 weeks after quake

Nepal on Monday announced the reopening of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley, seven weeks after a deadly quake that killed 8,787 people and damaged hundreds of cultural monuments and some key trekking trails in the country where tourism employs about a million people.

Air strike devastates UNESCO heritage site in Sanaa

An air strike in Yemen on Friday turned large parts of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sanaa into rubble, destroying at least three main buildings in the heart of the Old City.

ISIS/ISIL jihadists threaten Syria's ancient Palmyra

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadists battled Syrian troops near ancient Palmyra May 14, threatening the UNESCO world heritage site with destruction like that which it has already wreaked in Iraq, a monitoring group said.

Russia will never stop supporting its compatriots in Ukraine (Russian FM)

Russia will never stop supporting its compatriots in Ukraine and will spare no effort to keep Ukraine a united state, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel.

Nepal: Ban Ki-moon sends his condolences after earthquake hits Kathmandu Valley

 UN, 25 April 2015 – The United Nations Secretary-General has sent his deepest condolences to the Government of Nepal and to everyone affected by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country today.

UNESCO calls for the protection of cultural heritage in Yemen

UN,  27 March 2015 – The escalation of armed conflict in Yemen threatens the country’s cultural heritage, warned the head of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the world body’s agency responsible for protecting cultural property.

UN adopts resolution banning deals with terrorists

The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at choking off millions of dollars in earnings from oil smuggling, antiquities trafficking and ransom payments to the Islamic State (IS) group...

Threats to Cultural Heritage in Iraq and Syria (U.S. State Department)

Press Statement, Jen Psaki, Department Spokesperson, September 21, 2014:

"Secretary of State John Kerry will join the Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas Campbell, and its president, Emily Rafferty, on September 22 to highlight the destruction of irreplaceable cultural heritage taking place throughout Iraq and Syria at the hands of violent extremists like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Syrian regime.

Kiev parade shows aggressive plans to escalate crisis."Russian and Ukrainian peoples who have common origin, history and culture.” (Sergei Naryshkin)

MOSCOW, August 25. /ITAR-TASS/. The speaker of Russia’s parliament lower house State Duma Sergei Naryshkin believes that a parade held in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, on the occasion of Independence Day of the country was a manifestation of aggressive plans to escalate the crisis.
“Yesterday a military parade was held in Kiev, where military units carrying out a punitive operation in the country’s east already for several months also participated,” Sergei Naryshkin told reporters on Monday.

Samaras proposes Xi Jinping joint navy warship patrols with Chinese

As China's presence on the international stage grows, it can rely on its 'strategic partnership' with Greece, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras tells Chinese President Xi Jinping on Rhodes...

Crete could serve as a regional node for the support, maintenance and repair of the Chinese Navy and the possibility exists for joint naval operations between Greece and China’s People's Liberation Army Navy, the prime minister told the visiting Chinese president on Rhodes on Sunday.

Deputy PM and FM Venizelos’ initial remarks in the EP debate on the “Return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State” (Strasbourg, 15 April 2014)

MFA, Wednesday, 16 April 2014

E. VENIZELOS: Thank you Madam President. Honourable Members, you understand how important it is for the Hellenic Presidency of the Council, which attaches such great importance to cultural heritage, to participate in this debate, representing the Council.

The Directive on the return of cultural goods unlawfully removed from a territory of a Member State is an important tool for the European Union to combat the illegal trafficking in cultural goods, which has become one of the most widespread forms of organized crime.

Statements of Deputy PM and FM Venizelos and the Chairman of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, David Hill. -Hellenic MoFA

MFA, Thursday, 13 March 2014

E. VENIZELOS: David Hill is a true pillar of the effort we are making to return the Parthenon Sculptures, the Marbles, now that we have the great endeavor of the new Museum, now that awareness has again been raised in international public opinion on this pending issue. And because he is the Chairman of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, we had a discussion today regarding the next steps, which have already been taken by the Culture Ministry, by Mr. Panagiotopoulos.

‘Stop the destruction’, UN officials urge in plea to save Syria’s cultural heritage

UN, 12 March 2014 – The rampant destruction of Syria’s cultural heritage – including ancient cities, houses and temples – is deepening hatred in the war-torn country and must stop, United Nations and Arab League officials warned today, stressing that the protection of Syria’s ancient history is inseparable from the protection of its people.
“Destroying the inheritance of the past robs future generations of a powerful legacy, deepens hatred and despair and undermines all attempts to foster reconciliation,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director General, Irina Bokova, and UN and League of Arab States Joint Special Representative for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. 

Greek Foreign Minister: EU Presidency Is Opportunity...

Greece’s foreign minister believes the country’s EU presidency is an opportunity to present itself as a full-fledged member of the block, despite the crisis it is faced with.

“We are seeking a new narrative for Europe. We therefore have to bring back into the discussion a Europe of culture, of civilization, of history, of the rule of law, and of the welfare state”, said Evangelos Venizelos in an interview for Euronews.

On January 1, Greece assumed the rotational presidency of the EU, taking over from Lithuania.