New momentum in cultural cooperation between Greece and Egypt

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni is making an official working visit to Cairo, with the aim of further strengthening cultural relations and expanding cooperation between Greece and Egypt, while participating in the events of the “Cavafeia 2026” festival, which highlights the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, honoring the memory and work of Constantine Cavafy.

At the working meeting of the Minister of Culture with the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, Sherif Fathy, the excellent level of bilateral relations was confirmed and it was agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of the protection and promotion of cultural heritage.

Sherif Fathy stressed the importance of the results of the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations, last December in Athens, noting that he prioritizes the upgrading and expansion of this specific organization, the Presidency of which will be held by Egypt in 2027.

The two Ministers agreed that the Forum could be a valuable platform for the exchange of know-how and coordination between countries with similar challenges and related goals. They also agreed to establish an interdisciplinary group with a scope of cooperation in the fields of conservation, protection and promotion of monuments through the exchange of know-how and the use of modern technologies, and with the ultimate goal of carrying out joint excavation research in Greece and Egypt.

There was a common will to strengthen the coordination of actions to prevent the illegal trafficking of cultural goods, for which the signing of a relevant agreement is also underway.

Mendoni thanked her counterpart for his clear support for the request for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures in Athens, while expressing her support for the return of the Rosetta Stone to Egypt. She informed her counterpart that Greece has completed the procedures and is ready to proceed with the return of six Egyptian figurines, which had been seized in Athens and are temporarily kept at the National Archaeological Museum. The handover ceremony will take place in Athens in the near future.

Finally, the two Ministers stressed their intention to cooperate within the framework of UNESCO. Mendoni informed her counterpart about the conference organized by the Ministry of Culture jointly with UNESCO, on the topic of intangible cultural heritage next September in Athens, looking forward to Egyptian participation and scientific contribution. It is noted that Khaled El Enany, former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, was succeeded by Sherif Fathy. Khaled El Enany is currently the Director-General of UNESCO.

Mendoni then met with the Minister of Culture of Egypt, Gihane Zaki, with whom she discussed ways to implement the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation between the two countries. The two Ministers stressed the long-standing and close ties between Greece and Egypt, two countries united by the Mediterranean – “a sea of memory and culture” – noting their political will to deepen their cooperation.

In this context, possibilities for cooperation were examined, through multilateral structures and organizations, such as the EU Pact for the Mediterranean, the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Council of Europe’s cultural routes, with the aim of highlighting common elements of traditions, such as olive oil, the Mediterranean diet and handicrafts.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni was given a tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which was inaugurated last November and is one of the largest and most modern archaeological museums in the world. It houses more than 75,000 ancient artifacts, highlighting, in an exceptional way, the unique contribution of ancient Egyptian civilization.

During the tour, she was informed about the advanced exhibition infrastructure, modern conservation laboratories and innovative technologies that are applied not only to the protection and promotion of antiquities, but also about the role of the Grand Egyptian Museum as an international center for research, education and cultural cooperation.