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MESSAGE BY THE PRESIDENT

OF THE HELLENIC NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO

EKATERINI TZITZIKOSTA

OPENING OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

OF THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Honorable Ambassadors, distinguished guests

I am deeply honored to greet you, in my capacity of President of

the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, on the occasion of this

important photographic exhibition, on the Greek UNESCO World

Heritage sites, organized by the Intercultural Euromediterranean Centre

for UNESCO in cooperation with the TEI Peiraia.

UNESCO, since its inception in 1945, struggles to promote the

expansion of full and equal opportunities for education for all, the

protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the reinforcement

of sciences and the increase of communication between different

nations and peoples, aiming at the mutual understanding and respect of

cultural diversity.

Moreover, the organization, strives to strengthen all of the

aforementioned fields through technical advice, standard setting,

innovative projects, capacity building and networking, welcoming

innovation, diffusion of information and best practices, as well as policy

dialogue.

Reflecting the natural and cultural wealth that belongs to all of

humanity, World Heritage sites and monuments constitute crucial

landmarks for our world. They symbolize the consciousness of States and

peoples of the significance of these places and reflect their attachment

to collective ownership and to the transmission of this heritage to future

generations.

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The protection of World Heritage monuments, therefore,

besides a necessity, should constitute a national duty and a high

priority of the international community. UNESCO stands at the

forefront of international efforts for the protection of World Cultural

Heritage, aiming, through its programmes, not only to inform, but also

to alert and activate the international community.

Greece has ratified the Convention for the Protection of

Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1981. Since that date the Greek

state, actively participates in the efforts of UNESCO for the

safeguarding of monuments and the inclusion of new world heritage

sites implementing a variety of actions at national, regional and

international level.

Today, UNESCO’s World Heritage List includes a total of 1.007

cultural and natural sites. Greece has inscribed 17 so far, and we

continue to work with enthusiasm and effectiveness for the inclusion of

additional sites to the World Heritage List of UNESCO, bearing in mind,

that there are still a number of Greek monuments of outstanding

artistic value, that have not yet been included.

Greece’s World Heritage monuments constitute a remarkable

example of the outstanding wealth of the Greek spirit, acting as the

spiritual legacy of our ancestors, which has to be safeguarded, not

only as Greece’s national treasure, but also as the common heritage

of all humanity.

The registration of a monument in UNESCO’s World Heritage List

constitutes a complex responsibility. Each country has to protect and

follow up the restoration of its inscribed sites, in cooperation with the all

the relevant institutions and parties at national, regional and

international level. Additionally, member-states that have ratified

the Convention have the obligation to submit yearly reports on the

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condition of the inscribed monuments, in which they present all the

necessary measures taken for their protection.

Policies focusing on the long term protection and preservation of

monuments, alongside with allocating all the necessary human and

financial resources, lay at the heart of the obligations of each member

state. Additionally, in order to prevent any threat endangering the

character, identity and sustainability of the inscribed monuments,

member states take all the necessary legal, technical and managerial

measures.

It is obvious from the abovementioned that the inclusion of a

monument in UNESCO’s List is only the beginning of a long and difficult

journey, which calls for constant alertness and readiness.

Additionally, UNESCO works intensively for the implementation of

the 8 Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. One of these

goals is centered on the formulation of strategies for sustainable

development. The cooperation between countries for the sustainable

management of cultural heritage is of major importance, not only for

present, but also for future generations.

At this point I wish to highlight the role of education on the

protection of World Cultural Heritage, since it is only through

knowledge that our children will embrace our cultural heritage and

will deliver it intact to future generations.

In an era, where many are highlighting the elements that separate

cultures, UNESCO stands against this confrontational logic and strongly

endeavours to promote those elements which unite cultures. Dedicated

to its uniting vision UNESCO offers a unique international platform to

governmental agencies, international organisations and representatives

of civil society facilitating new partnerships and encouraging concrete

initiatives in the sphere of cross-cultural and intercultural dialogue. This

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constructive dialogue however requires substantial knowledge of the

different cultures and their traditions with a view to giving the opportunity

to all peoples to co-exist harmoniously, to prosper, to create and to

dream.

Concluding, I would like to express my warmest appreciation to the

President of the Intercultural Euromediterranean Centre for UNESCO, Ms

Titika Stasinopoulou and to her team for the excellent organization and

their vision prioritizing Greece’s culture, education and development.