2023-12-14 16:27:08
Editorial RoomCurrent Affairs
In a solemn atmosphere and with the Minister of Culture handing over to the Mayor of Zagori and the local bodies the parchment of the registration of Zagori as a UNESCO Cultural Landscape, the priorities of the immediately following months were set, as the official declaration ceremony, with the participation of the executives of the international organization, will take place on May 24 and 25.
“We must all realize that the municipality of Zagori is the only one in the entire country that is fully included in UNESCO. In at least 18 other municipalities they have integrated monuments, but here it is in its entirety and this is a huge honor, a huge success for the country, but also a huge responsibility”, noted the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, after the conclusion of the meeting that took place at the Epirus Regional Office, presence of service agents.
Membership in UNESCO confers on the region a series of obligations, which must be fulfilled by the end of 2024, with the first step being the determination of the management body, which will be based at the Paschalio School in Kapesovo, a building with ” symbolic and emotional charge”, as the minister noted. At the same time, an electronic platform should be created for the Cultural Landscape of Zagori, open and accessible internationally.
Mrs. Mendoni, in her statements, underlined that a medium-long-term plan is required, with a horizon of 2030 and 2050, reiterating that the limitations that exist are known and contribute to the preservation of the natural and cultural landscape.
“The plan is a basic condition to save Zagori, to preserve its unique character, which is its added value. Now it is a cultural, an environmental and also an economic dimension. But we must see it within the framework of sustainable development”, he noted.
The regional governor, Alexandros Kahrimanis, expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation with the Ministry for the integration of Zagori, as well as for the rest of the cultural projects in the region. “We are not only for the celebrations, but it requires a lot of work and consistency”, he noted and thanked the minister for issues that have been stagnant for many years, such as the Kaloutsanis Mosque, the Imaret in Arta, Souli, and many more.
“As of today, Zagori is changing course”, said the mayor Giorgos Soukouvelos, after the end of the meeting, thanking the minister and all those who worked for Zagori’s inclusion in UNESCO.
As he added, the municipality will temporarily staff the office at Paschalio School, while two committees will be created, one headed by the Regional Governor and the Mayor and a small and executive one. “My fellow citizens should not be afraid of anything”, he emphasized, regarding the restrictions and obligations of the region.
The certification of museums is progressing
In the meantime, Mrs. Mendoni presided over a second official meeting, held at the archaeological museum of Ioannina, with the objective of certifying the four public museums of the Region.
The procedures are progressing, with the aim of the first museums to be certified to be those of Epirus, within the first quarter of 2024.
At the same time, of course, the procedures related to the promotion of the historical Souli are also progressing, with the Castle of Kiafa having already been auctioned and the tender ending in January, while a procedure for the necessary legislative regulation regarding the ownership regime is also underway of the historic houses of Tetrahori.
The goal is for this to be completed in the first quarter of the new year. Next week in Athens, another meeting will be held on this issue, with the participation of the Regional Governor.
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