The Memorandum on the Ukrainian network of Intercultural Cities (ICC-UA) was signed between Mayor of Sumy Oleksandr Lysenko and Kseniya Khovanova-Roubicondo, Manager of the Ukrainian network of the Council of Europe Intercultural Cities Programme. By joining the intercultural cities network Sumy will use the extensive experience of ICC project to improve intercultural relations for social and economic development of the city by emphasising the advantages of intercultural diversity for the city. Mayor Lysenko highlighted the benefits that cosmopolitan city of Sumy can derive from this regional project for the overall development of the city not only from intercultural point of view, but also in the spheres of education, economy, everyday life.

According to Antonina Loved, the Director of Communications and Information Policy of the city, signing this Memorandum brings Sumy and Ukraine a step closer towards the European integration. Further to signing the Memorandum and joining the Ukrainian network of Intercultural Cities, the work of Sumy municipality will be analysed using the ICC Index methodology during 12 months. Based on the findings an Action Plan will then be adopted for the next two years. The Action Plan will include the strategy for the network, communication plan, meetings, study visits and development of joint projects, exchange of experience.

In the framework of this visit Kseniya Khovanova-Roubicondo, together with Lyudmila Afanasieva, Director of the Centre for sociological studies of the Hmelnicki University, active member of Melitopol intercultural city programme, gave a presentation on the Intercultural cities of Europe and the Ukrainian network of Intercultural Cities. They had bilateral meetings with city representatives, community organizations, as well as cultural, ethnic and religious associations.