President opens primitive art museum

Victor Yushchenko took part in a ceremony to open a primitive art museum at the Kamyana Mohyla (Stone Grave) State History and Archeology Reserve, President's press office reported.

In his speech, the President said the government and businessmen were cooperating to restore Ukraine’s cultural sites, and their cooperation had resulted in the creation of this museum. He particularly thanked the Dniprospetsstal Joint-Stock Company for financing the project. (In April 2005, the Reserve Director, the Zaporizhzhya OSA Head and the company had signed a 1.8-million-hryvnias agreement to construct this museum complex.)

Speaking about the challenge to preserve and popularize the reserve, Yushchenko called it “a unique site to which paths from all continents have been trampled down.” He believes it is important to grant a national status to the reserve.

The Head of State informed those present that UNESCO thoughtof including this museum in the World Heritage List. Yushchenko said he was convinced that Ukraine had many historical and cultural sites for the world to see.

He also thanked the staff for preserving this unique heritage in difficult circumstances.