News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) - Anniversaries of the births of Iosif Goshkevich and Michal Kleofas Oginski have been included in the UNESCO events calendar for 2014-2015, BelTA learnt from Pavel Latushko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France and Belarus’ Permanent Representative in UNESCO.

The decision was made at UNESCO’s 37th General Conference. Belarus had earlier suggested celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous scientist and diplomat Iosif Goshkevich in 2014 and the 250th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding politician, diplomat and composer Michal Kleofas Oginski in 2015.

Belarus’ initiative concerning Iosif Goshkevich’s anniversary has been upheld by Russia and Japan, while the Oginski initiative has found the support of Lithuania and Poland due to the fact that the two outstanding people were connected with these countries.

Pavel Latushko noted that the inclusion of the Goshkevich and Oginski jubilees in the UNESCO Calendar is the acknowledgement of merits of the Belarusian historical personalities, which underlines the importance of the Belarusian cultural and historical heritage for the international community.

In connection with the forthcoming jubilees, several events dedicated to Iosif Goshkevich and Michal Kleofas Oginski will be held in Belarus, a number of other states and at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.