Distinguished Ministers, esteemed colleagues and friends,
It is a great pleasure and a profound honor to welcome you today to the Acropolis Museum, a place where the spirit of classical civilization continues to breathe and inspire. Just before the family photo was taken, during the guided tour of this stunning building and its magnificent cultural treasures, you had the opportunity to walk among the masterpieces of an era that helped define the trajectory of humanity - thanks to Professor Stampolidis. And shortly after this gathering, you will visit the sacred rock of the Acropolis itself and stand in the presence of a monument that embodies the very essence of cultural achievement, human ingenuity, and universal values.
Your presence here, in the heart of Athens, for the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, reaffirms the shared commitment of our nations to protect and promote our cultural heritage in ways that strengthen cooperation and understanding in an era of unprecedented global challenges. It is a testament to our unwavering commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage wherever it is threatened and to promoting its significance in shaping peaceful and inclusive societies.
The Ancient Civilizations Forum was founded on a simple but very powerful idea: that the cultural wealth of our ancient civilizations is not a relic of the past, but a living resource for the future.
Over the years, this Forum has evolved into a unique diplomatic tool - soft power in action - that fosters intercultural dialogue and cooperation.
This year, the Forum returns to its birthplace as Greece hosts the Forum for the second time, following the inaugural meeting in Athens in 2017. It brings together nations shaped by some of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Our cultures collectively have offered humankind democracy, philosophy, governance, theater, science, astronomy, architecture, literature, and countless other contributions that continue to define and influence our contemporary societies.
Since the creation of the Forum, we have lived through the COVID pandemic and are continually faced with multiple armed conflicts around the world and the destructive impact of climate change. In this environment of global challenges that require coordinated cooperation to address them, we have all come to understand that the protection of cultural heritage can significantly contribute to the promotion of global security, resilience, and sustainable development.
Across the world, cultural monuments and historical sites remain under threat - from illicit trafficking, extremist violence, and natural disasters caused by extreme weather events. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard them. And it is equally our responsibility to ensure that future generations do not inherit a diminished cultural legacy.
For Greece, this mission is deeply connected to our national identity. We are the custodians of monuments that belong not only to our national narrative but to the shared history of humankind. Just here, on the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, the temple of Athena Nike - these are not simply symbols of ancient Greece; they are symbols of the universal pursuit of beauty, balance, and democratic ideals. This is the place where “logos”, the very concept of rational thought, was born, as part of the Greek language, which, beginning in 2026, I am proud to say, will be celebrated globally on the first World Greek Language Day on February 9.
The Ancient Civilizations Forum has already taken necessary steps in this direction. Through our ministerial declarations and our collective actions, we are demonstrating that diplomacy can be enriched and strengthened when it draws inspiration from the cultural achievements of our ancestors. The Forum is dedicated to combating illicit trafficking of cultural property, promoting education and youth engagement, and protecting cultural heritage from destruction due to conflict and the effects of climate crisis.
During the current Presidency of Greece, the Forum had the opportunity to engage productively in UNESCO's work. This past May, Greece was elected to the Subsidiary Committee of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transport of Ownership of Cultural Property. Just ten days ago, Greece was elected to the Committee of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Your Excellencies, dear friends,
Today, as we gather under the shadow of the Parthenon, let us reflect on the remarkable fact that our civilizations continue to speak to one another across centuries.
When I look around the room, I see representatives from eleven diverse, vibrant nations, spanning regions across the globe. We speak different languages, uphold distinct political systems, and face diverse challenges.
Yet, we are united by an indisputable fact: our ancestors laid the foundations of the global society and charted paths for humanity to follow.
I would like especially to welcome Cyprus in our great Forum. Congratulations, it is a great honor for all of us to host you here and we are hoping, in the very near future, to conclude the inclusion of India in this wonderful Forum.
In a world increasingly characterized by geopolitical fragmentation, our Forum’s mission has never been more critical. The Yerevan Declaration of the 8th Ministerial Meeting rightly underscored that damage to cultural property belonging to any people whatsoever means damage to the cultural heritage of all mankind.
Greece, as President of the 9th Ministerial Meeting, is committed to continuing on this path. We must move beyond declarations to tangible, actionable cooperation. Our Forum must leverage our collective soft power to advocate for principled multilateralism - the belief that shared problems require common solutions, based on the foundation of International Law and mutual respect.
Our history shows that humanity has overcome significant transitions before. It reminds us that our endurance is tied not just to our economic or military strength, but to the resilience of our foundational values.
Let the achievements of our civilizations inspire us to rise to the challenge of our own times. Let us transform our shared cultural heritage into a mandate for common diplomatic action. Let us ensure that our cooperation within this Forum becomes an exemplary model of the power of dialogue.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each one of you for your commitment to our shared vision.
I also wish to congratulate the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni for taking great care of this Forum and thank her for her cooperation in order to commit this Forum to a future vision.
I also express Greece’s determination and commitment to continue supporting this Forum by expanding its activities, as a small token of gratitude to our ancestors.
Thank you.
December 12, 2025