February 9th, dedicated to Greece’s national poet Dionysios Solomos, has been established as World Greek Language Day, following a unanimous decision by the 90 member states of UNESCO. This marks a historic recognition of the Greek language as a cornerstone of global culture.

Today, Lina Mendoni, Greece’s Minister of Culture, will deliver a speech at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris to celebrate the first anniversary of this day. In addition to her address, she will inaugurate the Ministry of Culture’s exhibition “They Gave Me the Greek Language”, which highlights the ancient origins and rich heritage of the Greek language—the oldest living language in Europe. The exhibition features short texts, visual materials, and replicas of iconic monuments of ancient Greek writing.

Meeting at the National Library of France

Earlier, Minister Mendoni met with Gilles Pécout, President of the National Library of France. They discussed potential collaborations between the national libraries and cultural institutions of both countries, focusing on researcher exchanges, digitization expertise, and joint initiatives. Mendoni emphasized the importance of Greece-France cooperation in libraries, archives, and cultural diplomacy, including collaboration with the French School at Athens, which holds a three-century archive of archaeological research in Greece.

The meeting also explored the possibility of organizing an exhibition at the Richelieu building, centered on the correspondence between Émile Zola and Ioannis Psycharis, as a testament to European spirit and values. This exhibition could be part of Greece’s cultural program during its EU Presidency in 2027.