Russia calls for removal of political issues from UNESCO agenda

Russian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Alexander Kuznetsov on Tuesday called on the organisation to remove politicised issues, which must be considered at other UN platform from its agenda.

“Concentration of efforts envisages removal UNESCO activities that are not in line with its mandate.

“It is necessary to remove from the agenda politicised issues that cannot be solved by the organisation and must be considered via other UN platforms,’’ Kuznetsov said at the 204th session of the UNESCO Executive Board.

According to the Russian delegate, UNESCO should not neglect situations when it comes to violations of the organisation’s principles and values.

“I am speaking about the Convention Against Discrimination in Education, which is blatantly violated by the Ukrainian Education Law.

“Also the removal of the law on Principles of the State Language Policy as well as changes in provisions of the Education law in Latvia,’’ Kuznetsov said.

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The new Ukrainian law stipulates that starting from Sept. 1, children from national minority groups will be able to study in their native language only at the primary school level, while secondary and post-secondary education will be only in Ukrainian.

The full switch to Ukrainian-language education is set for Sept. 1, 2020.

The law was criticised by Russia, Hungary and Romania.

In January, Latvia adopted amendments to its education law stipulating a gradual transition to teaching in Latvian for ethnic minority schools.

The transition will take place over three years starting on Sept. 1, 2019.