TheĀ resignationĀ of Russiaās ambassador toĀ UNESCOĀ will end the deadlock in aĀ keyĀ group he chaired that is charged with preserving cultural sites around the world, a diplomaticĀ sourceĀ told AFP.
The World HeritageĀ Committee, responsible for adding properties toĀ UNESCOās list of world heritage sites, had been unable to function for months after the international backlash against Russiaās invasion of Ukraine.
āI have the honor to inform you of the end of my mission as permanent delegate of theĀ RussianĀ Federation toĀ UNESCO,āĀ Russian Ambassador Alexander Kuznetsov said Tuesday, Nov. 22 in a letter to the members of the World Heritage CommitteeĀ obtained by AFP.
TheĀ resignationĀ will allow theĀ committeeĀ to āquickly appoint a new presidentā and resume its activities, a UN diplomat told AFP.
Russiaās position as chair of theĀ committeeĀ had sparked an outcry among other members following Moscowās invasion of Ukraine in February.
TheĀ committeeĀ had been due to meet in June in theĀ RussianĀ city of Kazan, but 46 countries, including France and the UK, boycotted the event.
The meeting was supposed to update the landscapes, monuments and cities included in the bodyās list of heritage sites.
UNESCOĀ regulations dictate that replacements for a resigningĀ committeeĀ chair are to be appointed by the country that follows in alphabetical order in English.
Saudi Arabia, which is next in line after Russia, is expected to announce in the coming days whether it will take over the chair of theĀ committee.
UNESCOĀ said an extraordinary meeting will be held in the following weeks to determine the date and place of its next ordinary session, expected in the first half of next year.
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