Signed this morning at Town Hall of Rhodesafter thirty-nine (39) years, the 2nd in the history of Rhodes Cultural Development Program Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Medieval City of Rhodes.

The mayor of Rhodes Antonis V. Kambourakis and the competent deputy mayor of Cultural Monuments and Construction Service dr. Stefanos I. Drakos, welcomed the Minister of Culture at the town hall of Rhodes Lina Mendonithe president of ODAP Nikoleta Divari-Valakou and the regional governor of South Aegean Georgios Hatzimarkos, for the signing of the Cultural Development Program Convention of article 100 of N.3852/2010 as in force under the title: “Protection and Promotion of the Medieval City of Rhodes”.

The Program Contract for an initial period of ten (10) years with the possibility of extension, has an initial estimated budget for projects, studies, services and supplies of sixty-three million five hundred seventy-six thousand two hundred and forty-four euros and thirty cents (63,576,244.30 euros) including VAT 24 %.

The care of the Greek state for the restoration and promotion of the monument was continuous and on September 28, 1984, the first Program Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Municipality of Rhodes for the Medieval City lasting twenty (20) years. Today, April 7th of the year 2023, thirty-nine (39) years later, a new Programming Agreement was signed at the Town Hall of Rhodes, which aims to:

a) the continuous, uninterrupted and sincere cooperation of the contracting parties with the parallel development of a strong and unbreakable partnership between them, which will contribute to the acceleration of the execution procedures of the described Studies, Projects, Actions, Services, etc.,

b) in defining a common, unified, coherent action framework, based on which individual goals and global goals are set, which are agreed to be implemented,

c) defining and determining the means, methods and procedures for the implementation of what is described herein,

d) at the disposal of specific and prescribed financial resources that will ensure the execution of the Studies, Projects, Actions, Services, etc., ensuring the development trajectory of the region,

e) in the maintenance, protection and promotion of the UNESCO World Heritage monument and

g) in the utilization of modern technologies and innovative development, with the aim of its economic well-being, the support of its active settlement and above all the sustainable and sustainable development, based on the International Conventions and the protective provisions of Law 4858/2021.

The contracting parties participate in the conclusion of the Cultural Development Program Agreement for the implementation of the project: “Protection and Promotion of the Medieval City of Rhodes”, as follows:

The Ministry of Culture and Sports is the institutional body for the protection and promotion of the cultural stock of the Medieval city of Rhodes, based on Law 4858/2021. As the competent organization for the protection of the monument, its objective is the disclosure, recording and documentation of the monuments up to their maintenance, safeguarding, promotion and inclusion in modern social life. It is responsible for the study, planning, management and execution of any archaeological project, the scientific study and publication of antiquities, the management of the monuments of the archaeological sites, Museums and Collections belonging to the state, as well as for the general ensuring the implementation of the current legislation on the protection of antiquities.

The South Aegean Region is a key pillar of development planning at the regional level with responsibilities for planning, planning and policy implementation. It carries – among others – responsibilities for planning and development, natural resources and energy, employment, trade and tourism, spatial planning and the environment, as well as administrative care. It is one of the Regions of Greece, which can implement a specific program that includes projects and actions that are part of the Corporate Development Framework Agreement (EDF) and are financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). , in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and protection of cultural heritage.

The Municipality of Rhodes, as the custodian of the development policy of Rhodes, plans, programs and implements policies aimed at upgrading the services provided to the permanent residents of the Medieval city, their living conditions, but also the retention and development of the population within the walls. It ensures the increase of the benefit of those active in the Medieval city, the optimization of the services provided to visitors, as well as the planning, programming and implementation of studies, projects, services of actions, etc., in monuments or monumental/historical areas located in the territorial jurisdiction of and/or owned, draws up studies, supervises, executes and receives every project, such as building, electromechanical, plumbing, configuration of common areas and outdoor equipment of the Medieval City, after approval of the relevant studies by the competent bodies of the Ministry of the Interior. It generally implements programs for the overall and integrated protection and upgrading of the natural, architectural and cultural environment and living conditions, within the framework of national and European policies.

The Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources (ODAP), in accordance with Law 4761/2020 (A’ 248), has as its strategic objectives the upgrading of the quality of the services provided to visitors to archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums, the increasing the financial resources coming from the visits to the upper areas, the provision of services to the visitors and the utilization of the real estate, as well as the allocation of the financial resources to support the work of the YPPOA. The ODAP is responsible for the utilization of real estate owned or managed by the Ministry of the Environment or by itself. The use of real estate is done with the aim of highlighting and promoting the cultural heritage, providing high quality services and products and securing income.