President founds museum

President Victor Yushchenko took part in a ceremony to lay the foundation of the Ivan Marchuk Museum in Andriyivsky Uzviz (St. Andrew’s Downhill).

Together with Kiev Mayor Alexander Omelchenko and artist Ivan Marchuk, the Head of State placed a symbolic capsule in the foundation.

Addressing those present, Yushchenko said, “The state must make sure that such geniuses as Ivan Marchuk work comfortably and are respected by the nation.”

The President added that he was convinced this museum would be an example for “Kiev to accumulate such projects.” Yushchenko also noted that the museum would “eventually have all paintings created by this artist.” Thenhe saw severalpaintings and inspected a model of the museum.

Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Ivan Vasyunyk, State Affairs Department Head Igor Tarasyuk, people’s deputies, diplomats and artists took part in the ceremony.

On April 18, 2005, the Head of state had signed a decree to support the initiative to found this museum.