The Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan traveled to kyiv on Friday where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with seven other mayors of major European cities (Athens, Florence, Helsinki, Lyon, Oslo, Riga, Tirana). Participating in the Eurocities delegation (network of major European cities), the elected representative of Marseille and the other mayors ratified in the presence a memorandum of understanding for sustainable reconstruction of Ukrainian cities.
“It’s an incredible meeting in an incredible moment” – Benoît Payan
“It’s an incredible meeting, I had never been to a country at war“, confides Benoît Payan to France Bleu Provence. “You have to imagine what kyiv is, what Ukraine is, with _checkpoints everywhere, carcasses of destroyed planes, carcasses of tanks_…and in the middle an incredible presidential palace with sandbags everywhere, checkpoints yet to get there, and a president of Ukraine who is there and standing tall, dignified and marked“.
Volodymyr Zelensky, a person who commands respect, no doubt. “He took more than an hour to speak with our delegation of European mayors, to talk about the situation in his country but above all to project himself into the future.“. Because that is what it was all about. With this Eurocities delegation, a memorandum of understanding for the sustainable reconstruction of Ukrainian cities was signed.
“This text intends to set up joint actions and reaffirms the ambition to allow, as soon as peace is restored, a rapid, ecological rehabilitation but also respectful of the rule of law as well as the civil and social rights of the populations.“details the city of Marseille, which is said in a press release.
“This president is also looking to the future“, notes Benoît Payan, _”_he told us to continue to build these bridges, to provide this support and to be at their side. He is turned towards the reconstruction of his country. All current financial efforts are directed towards the Ukrainian army, oriented towards the battle with Russia. But he is a man at war who thinks of the reconstruction of this country“.
Marseille has already distinguished itself in supporting the Ukrainian populations in welcoming refugees, in particular with the provision for several weeks of a ferry in the port of the city. Nearly 450 tonnes of donations have also left Marseille for Ukraine since the start of the conflict.
Benoît Payan also wants invest in the future “alongside the Ukrainian people and its twin Odessa (…) This initiative will allow better coordination of humanitarian aid circuits between European cities and Ukrainian cities“.
Aid for reconstruction with marine firefighters in particular
Marseille will be present for the reconstruction, “as it has been present in Odessa since the beginning of the conflict“explains Benoît Payan to France Bleu Provence, “with human and technical resources“. From now on Marseille is also committed to helping Ukrainian cities with a partnership to think about the future. In concrete terms, this involves, for example, a partnership with Marseille hospitals which donate medicines and first aid equipment, camp beds and ambulances. It is also about partnerships with engineers. “We currently have a plan to rebuild our schools in Marseille“explains Benoît Payan, “Ukrainians are watching this closely“.
“We will provide Ukrainian cities with our expertise in particular to reconstitute their archives and restore their cultural and historical heritage“-Benoit Payan
The firefighters of Marseille also have their role to play. “They have already transported equipment by road to Odessa (…) but also medicines for example. They will do it again with Odessa and with kyiv”.
After this visit to Ukraine, the mayor of Marseille explains: “What we have seen in Borodyanka, Bucha, Irpin forces us to more mobilization and solidarity between cities. By acting together, we will be more powerful to help Ukraine when peace comes. As soon as the conflict is over, we are determined to commit ourselves to the long-term and effective reconstruction of Ukraine. I am thinking in particular of the youth of this country, who must not be deprived of their future by Russian aggression“.
A kyiv square in Marseille
On the occasion of this trip to Ukraine, the European cities present on the spot, the City of Marseilles and the City of kyiv endorsed a new cooperation by signing a outstanding pairing. This Friday, the mayors of the two municipalities signed an action program in the areas of civil security, culture and heritage, the construction of educational establishments, health and the promotion of peace. A follow-up committee will define the future objectives of this new partnership.
– City of Marseilles
“The inhabitants of kyiv and Marseille are now brotherly peoples”-Benoît Payan
The City of Marseille will also baptize in the future a place in Marseille in the name of kyiv to seal this new union, but it is not yet known where it will be located in the city. ” We are very proud to strengthen our ties with the Ukrainian capital. The inhabitants of kyiv and Marseille are now brother peoples says Benoît Payan, Mayor of Marseille.