First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the signing of a memorandum introducing a Ukrainian-language audio guide at the Cluny Museum – National Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris, as well as a declaration launching Ukrainian-language audio guides in an additional 14 museums that are part of Paris Musées.
The President’s wife noted that in the Middle Ages, Ukraine and France shared a historical chapter, when the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise became Queen of France after marrying King Henry I.
“This story still fills me with admiration for our ancestors: a thousand years ago, across such great distances and with completely different technological possibilities, our countries and our people maintained contacts and family ties and knew each other’s languages. It is a powerful lesson for us today: when there is a desire to communicate and to stay informed, neither time nor distance nor any other obstacles matter,” Olena Zelenska said.
The First Lady thanked the museum and Ukrainian diplomats whose efforts made it possible for the institution to join the project. More than 100 leading museums and landmarks around the world are already part of the initiative.
During her meeting with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and with the heads of the city’s museums, a declaration was also signed to introduce Ukrainian-language audio guides in 14 Paris Musées institutions: Musée d'Art moderne de la Ville de Paris, Maison de Balzac, Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris, Les Catacombes de Paris, Palais Galliera – Musée de la mode, Petit Palais – Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, Musée de la Vie romantique, Crypte archéologique de l'île de la Cité, Musée des Arts asiatiques de la Ville de Paris, Musée Cognacq-Jay, Musée du général Leclerc de Hauteclocque et de la Libération de Pari, Musée Jean Moulin, Maison de Victor Hugo à Paris, Musée Zadkine.
“A shared language is the one through which shared values are expressed – the language through which new knowledge and mutual understanding come. Ukrainian is becoming such a shared language for history, culture, and creativity around the world through the introduction of Ukrainian-language audio guides,” Olena Zelenska concluded.