Belarusian Foreign Ministry: Poland violates the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

Poland has committed unprecedented violations of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO. Vladimir Makei sent an appeal to the international community (heads of the National Commissions for UNESCO of foreign countries) in connection with the construction of Poland's fence on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha - the last in the region and the largest European relic forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vladimir Makei stressed that the Polish side, despite repeated requests, has not yet provided information about the details of the construction of the wall and an assessment of its impact on the outstanding universal value of the site.

Meanwhile, Warsaw continues to build a fence along the Belarusian-Polish border. According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Poland, about 120 kilometers of fence has already been built. The Polish authorities are convinced that the fence will allegedly become a barrier for refugees who want to get to the EU countries through the Polish border. However, so far the fence only causes serious damage to the wildlife of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Large mammals are dying because of the wall.