Quebec could open its doors to mayors from Russia this fall. The Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) will take place in the national capital in September, and the possible reception of Russian delegations requires a perilous balancing act at a time when the mayor of kyiv himself even expressed his intention to be there.
It is an organization whose mission — “to improve the management of cities that have a site recognized by UNESCO” — attracts no controversy. Its annual congress, in normal times, does not make any waves either. The war, however, creates a stir even in the most cozy instances.
This is how the OWHC finds itself with a thorny issue to resolve. The cities of Kazan and Saint-Petersburg, in Russia, could send a delegation to Quebec this fall. The cities of Lviv and kyiv in Ukraine are already hoping to come to the nation’s capital in September.
The army of one country has been looting, since the end of February, the people and the heritage of the other. The possibility that mayors from the two opposing camps will meet in Quebec this fall obviously makes the organization uncomfortable.
“Currently, our Russian members have taken a very low profile, indicates the Secretary General of the OWHC, Mikhaël de Thyse. There are no provocations and we try to keep the situation as it is. »
For the moment, neither Kazan nor Saint-Petersburg has asked to come to Quebec. “The goal is for them to understand for themselves and decide not to register,” underlines the secretary general, who has been in office for less than a year. “Let’s be clear: they are not welcome. »
Minister pleads non-interference
Quebec’s Minister of International Relations, Nadine Girault, was less categorical and refused to take a position when The duty asked him about a possible arrival of Russian mayors this fall.
“We will not interfere in international politics like that,” said Minister Girault. If they want to come and visit, we’ll see how we react then. »
“It’s a very, very sensitive issue,” said the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand. It is still early to decide on the reception of people. »
“We must first follow the evolution of the conflict, according to him. We must also take into consideration the requests and requirements that will be made by the Ukrainian delegations that will be able to come to Quebec. »
The organization of world heritage cities could, in the event of “provocations”, decide to exclude its Russian members during the general assembly which will take place on the occasion of the congress. Out of the question, however, to make the event “a platform on war”.
“It is the mayor of kyiv who comes to network and cooperate with the mayors of the world,” said Mr. de Thyse, the secretary general, about the possible arrival of Vitali Klitschko, a former world boxing champion who has now returned. at the head of the Ukrainian capital. “After the bombardment of bombs, there will be a bombardment of funding. It will be tens of billions, even hundreds of billions and therefore we will have to help the mayors. The OWHC will be ready, with its network, to help with the reconstruction. »