The Greek Community of Alexandria

Tag: Culture

  • Five Greek geoparks in UNESCO list

    Five Greek geoparks in UNESCO list

    ΓενικάDuring the 38th session of UNESCO’s General Conference (Nov 3-18), the 195 Member States unanimously agreed to ratify the creation of the ‘UNESCO Global Geoparks’.

    This new branding formalises a relationship with Geoparks and expresses governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner, promoting the conservation of the planet’s geological heritage, and encouraging sustainable research and development by communities concerned.

    Aegean University professor and director of Lesvos Petrified Forest Museum, Nikos Zouros, who represented Greece in the Sciences Committee, noted that Greece already has five areas designated in the ‘World Geoparks of Unesco’.

    In a total of 120 geoparks listed from 33 countries, the five Greek areas participating in the new program are the island of Lesvos, the areas of Psiloritis and of Sitia (in Crete), the national forest of Vikos-Aoos (in the Epirus region) and the national park of Chelmos-Vouraikos (in the northern Peloponnese).

    While a UNESCO Global Geopark must demonstrate geological heritage of international significance, the purpose of a UNESCO Global Geopark is to explore, develop and celebrate the links between that geological heritage and all other aspects of the area’s natural, cultural and intangible heritages.

    In this context, the organisation is striving to raise awareness of geo-diversity, as well as promoting the best practices for protection, education and tourism.

    Together with World Heritage sites and Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO Global Geoparks form a complete range of sustainable development tools and make an invaluable contribution to the realisation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by combining global and local perspectives.

    (neoskosmos.com)

  • “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin”

    “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin”

    Λογότυπο Ηνωμένων ΕθνώνThe Resolution on “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin” was unanimously adopted yesterday by the Plenary of the UN General Assembly, following a Greek initiative. The Resolution is submitted by our country every three years, and the final text was formulated through systematic consultation under the mediation of Greece, pursuant to relevant instructions from Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

    The Resolution enjoyed wide acceptance, as it was co-sponsored by a total of 74 states, including many member states of the European Union, a significant number of Latin American states, as well as a number of Arab and African states.

    This initiative bolsters the return of cultural property to countries of origin, as well as the effort to protect cultural heritage. These two dimensions of the Resolution are seen as particularly timely, given that the Middle East daily suffers destruction of works and monuments of world cultural heritage, while the link between trafficking in cultural property and funding of terrorism is well known.

    Special mention is made in the Resolution to the “Ancient Olympia Recommendation,” which calls on member states to mobilize for the return of stolen cultural treasures, with express reference to the return of the Parthenon Marbles. Another, equally important, dimension of the Resolution is the condemnation of the destruction of monuments of world cultural heritage in areas of armed conflict, including in occupied territories, and of illegal trafficking of cultural property by armed terrorist groups, such as ISIS.

    As a cradle of knowledge and culture, Greece will always be in the vanguard for protection of world cultural heritage and will continue to promote similar initiatives.