Zagori has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in the framework of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh.
“For the first time, a cultural asset of our country, which is an excellent example of our modern cultural heritage, is inscribed on the List. All the Greek inscriptions to date have been for goods of Antiquity or Byzantium,” the Minister of Culture stressed in a statement.
“The international organization recognized the outstanding universal value of the architecture of Zagorochoria, as an exceptional example of the survival and interaction of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. It recognized the authenticity and integrity of the property, ingredients necessary for its inclusion in the World Heritage List”, adds Lina Mendoni, expressing thanks to all those who contributed to the preparation of the nomination dossier and supported the whole project: “My fellow ministers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministers of the Ministry of Culture, the Region of Epirus, and the independent experts of many different specialties for their endless hours of voluntary work. The Regional Governor of Epirus Alexandros Kachrimanis, the Mayor of Zagori George Soukuvelos, and the residents of Zagori, for supporting, in every way, this effort.
I especially thank and congratulate the members of our delegation to the World Heritage Committee, who carried the burden of supporting the nomination. The head of our delegation Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Greece to UNESCO Maria Diamantopoulou, the head of our expert team Dr. Eugenia Gerousis, Honorary Director of Antiquities, our National Representative for UNESCO World Heritage Sites Konstantina Benisi and our Deputy National Representative Vasiliki Dimitropoulou.
The inscription of Zagori on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in the context of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, is an invitation and obligation of our country to preserve and protect intact this heritage, which from today becomes global” concludes the Minister of Culture.
