Greece to Host the 9th Ancient Civilizations Forum in 2025

Photo source: Culture Ministry

Greece will host the 2025 Ancient Civilizations Forum (ACF), following a decision announced at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the event in Yerevan, Armenia.

Founded in Athens in April 2017, the ACF was a joint initiative by Greece, China, Bolivia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Italy, and Peru, with Mexico participating as an observer country.

As part of its upcoming presidency, Greece plans to launch initiatives to raise the forum’s visibility, combat the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, share expertise on conservation, restoration, and promotion of member states’ cultural heritage, and implement international cultural actions with concrete outcomes in safeguarding and showcasing the cultural heritage of member states.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, representing Greece, highlighted the forum’s crucial role in celebrating the contributions of diverse cultures to global civilization and strengthening bilateral cultural ties among its members, exemplified by Greece’s collaborations with Italy, China, and Peru.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during her speech at the 8TH ACF Ministerial Conference. Photo source: Culture Ministry

Mendoni also expressed gratitude to the forum’s member countries for supporting Greece’s efforts to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles to Athens and for assisting in the inclusion of Greek nominations on the World Heritage List and UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List.

“We celebrate the achievements of our peoples and their enduring contributions to global civilization, while acknowledging the vital role our countries play today in upholding timeless values like dialogue, tolerance, and peace,” said Lina Mendoni.

The forum’s main objectives

As ministers remarked the forum’s main objectives are combating the illegal trafficking of cultural goods; sharing expertise on conserving and restoring monuments using modern technology; protecting cultural heritage in war zones; and launching joint initiatives to address the impacts of climate change on cultural monuments.

Regarding the latter, Lina Mendoni provided detailed information on Greece’s related international initiatives.

The minister also proposed measures to strengthen the Forum of Ancient Civilizations’ institutional identity, such as creating a “group of friends” under UNESCO to advance joint initiatives, positions, and declarations, and organizing scientific workshops in conjunction with the annual Ministerial Conference.

Greece to team up with Iran to foster cultural collaboration

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni with Irani Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Traditional Arts Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri. Photo source: Culture Ministry

On the sidelines of the forum, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni met with Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Traditional Arts.

They discussed cultural collaboration opportunities, including combating the illegal trafficking of cultural goods, promoting traditional crafts, organizing exhibitions, translating literary works, and studying historical sources.