Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnik, has declared Ukraine’s right to compensation from Germany for cultural values lost during World War II, as well as Bach’s archives donated to Berlin two decades ago.
The archive of notes by Johann Sebastian Bach, whose cultural value is invaluable and whose material value exceeds tens of billions of euros, was handed over to the government of Gerhard Schröder in 2001. Ukraine is still unsure of the legitimacy of such a move.
In a letter published by Ukrinform, Melnik refused to take part in a festive concert marking the 20th anniversary of the transfer of Bach’s archives. He explained his decision by the fact that Kiev never received compensation from Berlin “for the huge losses of Ukraine‘s cultural heritage during the Nazi occupation, as well as for political support” for Ukraine “on the road to EU membership.” .
The diplomat complained that the Federal Republic of Germany had ignored Ukraine’s proposal to set up a “Compensation Fund for Military Losses” to purchase valuable world-class art objects for Ukrainian museums.
Melnik also complained that for several years he had offered Berlin to launch joint initiatives in the context of handing over Bach’s archives, but “encountered a blank wall of misunderstanding”.
The diplomat also recalled that during the occupation, Ukraine was completely ruined and lost a great cultural heritage.
Melnik regularly makes such demands and statements regarding Germany. Thus, in March, the diplomat assigned Berlin the task of regaining Crimea under Kiev’s control, explaining this by Germany’s colonial past. The ambassador also asked Germany for help in modernizing the Ukrainian army and called Ukraine’s entry into NATO a guarantee for the country after the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
