Memorandum on Belarus-UNESCO cooperation signed in Minsk

The signing of a memorandum on cooperation between the government of Belarus and the UN Education, Science and Culture Organisation /UNESCO/ culminated on Wednesday a three-day official visit to Minsk by UNESCO Secretary-General Koichiro Matsuura.

Koichiro Matsuura laid particular stress on the importance of putting the Mir Castle in Belarus on a UNESCO world cultural heritage list. In the view of the UNESCO chief, inclusion of the castle at the village of Mir on this list "signifies that this cultural jewel of Belarus has become part of humanity." Belarus also submitted its candidacy for placing itself on a list of intangible cultural heritage, which implies traditional dances, songs, traditions and rites. These should be safeguarded, according to the UNESCO secretary-general, together with material monuments not only at a national but also an international level.