At the opening of the event, Emine Dhzaparova, Chairperson of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that the 75th Anniversary of UNESCO is an opportunity to recall the important mission of  UNESCO – to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. 

Emine Dhzaparova stressed the measures taken by UNESCO to focus on the problems of preservation of cultural heritage in Crimea and expressed gratitude to the Organization for special information meetings and reports by the Director General on the implementation of decisions of the UNESCO Executive Board on the follow up of the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine). She also condemned the destructive actions of the occupying power against the objects of Ukrainian cultural heritage in Crimea, which pose a real threat to the preservation of their universal cultural and historical value and authenticity.

The Chairperson of the National Commission underlined the contribution of our country to UNESCO's membership over the years and expressed her conviction that Ukraine's participation in the Organization’s activities is an investment to resources that contribute to peacebuilding and global development: education, cultural diversity and research.

The First Deputy Minister informed about the reform of the National Commission, which aims to increase its institutional capacity.

E. Dzhaparova informed about the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Association of Ukrainian Cities in order to more actively involve Ukrainian cities in projects such as the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and Global Network of Learning Cities.

UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Ms Osnat Lubrani - her Office co-organized the event - pointed out the symbolic choice of the way to celebrate UNESCO's 75th Anniversary: by planting trees to pay tribute to preservation of nature and environment.

People's Artist of Ukraine and UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko, two-time Olympic champion, International Olympic Committee member and vice-president of the National Olympic Committee Valery Borzov, Director General of the Sofia Kyivska Natational Reserve Nelya Kukovalsia and representative of the Association of Ukrainian Cities Tetyana Kutsenko took part in planting trees on UNESCO Alley.

The initiative regarding UNESCO plane alley laying was co-sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, represented at the event by Volodymyr Radchenko Academician-Secretary of the Department of General Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and Natalia Zaimenko, Director of the National Botanical Garden.