Koumoutsakos hails UNESCO’s historic decision to add the Minoan Palaces to the World Heritage List

“Following a historic decision, the Minoan Palatial Centers of Crete are now part of the World Heritage List,” Greece’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, George Koumoutsakos, said in a statement to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).

As he explained, “UNESCO placed its own seal of prestige on Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Zominthos, and Kydonia, recognizing the significance and uniqueness of the Minoan civilization. A civilization that thrived 5,000 years ago, with its cultural creation, the development of trade throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and the formation of a solid social structure that had the palatial centers at its center. A civilization that at the same time believed in the joy of life, as evidenced by the world-famous frescoes. This historic decision is for Greece, for Crete, and for all of us, a source of joy and pride, but at the same time a source of great responsibility: to protect and preserve, with all our might, this uniquely important cultural asset. Every great success is the result of a collective, not an individual effort. I thank from the bottom of my heart all those at the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my colleagues at the Permanent Representation of Greece to UNESCO who worked with faith, dedication and high professionalism, so that we could reach this result. Everyone’s cooperation was impeccable. A big thank you and congratulations to the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, who guided this entire national effort with determination and knowledge.”

The inclusion of the Minoan Palace Centers on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which was announced on Saturday, in the context of the work of the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, is a great success for our country, the Ministry of Culture noted in a statement. It constitutes the international recognition of the outstanding universal value of the six extremely important archaeological sites of Crete.
At the same time, it is a commitment for Greece to preserve and protect the cultural values of these important monumental complexes intact. The registration is the culmination of the systematic, painstaking, long-term effort of the experienced executives and services of the Ministry of Culture and their constructive cooperation with the Region of Crete and other competent bodies in the preparation of the candidacy file.

Source: ANA-MPA