The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, at the presentation of the government’s strategic plan for the development and reconstruction of Evros, in Orestiada, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, pointed out that “the YPPO implements projects worth approximately 40 million euros in Evros in extremely close and excellent cooperation with the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The objective of the Ministry of Tourism is to create new jobs and contribute to the strengthening of cultural tourism, as the Regional Unity of Evros is ideal for developing such a type of tourism, so that it ultimately leads to a type of cultural entrepreneurship, closely linked to the unique cultural wealth of the region».

Lina Mendoni referred to the two policies implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the region. The first concerns, in collaboration with the Universities, the implementation of strategic cultural development plans for the capitals and some individual regions of the Regional Units in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

“In the case of Evros, the Minister noted, this is done for Alexandroupolis and Soufli. In fact, we want to create new toolkits for these regions, usable by all bodies that draw up and implement cultural policy and at the local level. Our goal is to better organize the management of local cultural resources and products. These plans will be ready in the first quarter of 2025. We will present them to the local communities and then they will be consulted by the relevant agencies, so that we can finally arrive at a strategic plan, completely acceptable to all».

The second policy concerns the strengthening of local forms of handicraft. As Lina Mendoni stated:

“And this is something we have worked on systematically, over the last five years, again in collaboration with our Universities. By the end of 2025, we are creating two weaving structures in Alexandroupolis and Didymoteicho, precisely to reinforce the efforts already made by the local communities, to give them an extra boost».

Then the Minister of Culture referred to the actions and projects that have been implemented, those that are being implemented or have been launched by the Ministry of Culture:

  • Burial mound of Mikri Doxipara – Zone
  • Bayazit Mosque in Didymoteicho
  • New Museum of Alexandroupolis
  • Ancient Zone in Ancient Egnatia street
  • Archaeological Museum of Samothrace
  • Tower of Fonias in Samothrace
  • Holy Monastery of Panagia Cosmosoteira of Fero
  • Didymoteicho Castle
  • Sanctuary of the Great Gods in Samothrace
  • Plotinopolis
  • Agios Athanasios, Metaxades
  • Agios Panteleimonas, Paliouri
  • Agios Athanasios, Alepochori

The following is the speech of the Minister of Culture, Linas Mendoni, at the event on the theme: “National Strategy for Regional and Local Development. We discuss, we decide, we move forward, TOGETHER for Evros”.

Mr President,

“Your Excellency,

Mr. District Governor,

It is the fourth time in the last two months that I am in Evros. I am particularly happy because this means that what was started since July 2019 is now in the implementation phase, so they need systematic monitoring.

Thrace, Evros, has always been a place of synthesis of nature and the creations of man, of memory, of history with modern dynamics, of the native with the imported, a unique synthesis of multiculturalism.

The Ministry of the Interior is currently implementing projects worth approximately 40 million euros in Evros in extremely close and excellent cooperation with the Region.

The projects range from the protection of archaeological sites and the restoration of monuments, to the creation of modern infrastructure and the stimulation of the local cultural stock of intangible heritage, which is truly valuable for the region.

Our goal is to create new jobs and contribute to the strengthening of cultural tourism, as the Regional Unity of Evros is ideal to develop such a type of tourism and ultimately lead to a type of cultural entrepreneurship, closely linked to its cultural wealth area that is unique.

Before I go into the brief presentation of the projects, I want to say that we are implementing two of our important policies here, Mr. President.

In collaboration with the Universities, we are currently implementing strategic cultural development plans for the capitals and some individual regions of the Regional Units of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

In the case of Evros, this is done for Alexandroupolis and Soufli. In fact, we want to create for these areas, new toolkits, usable by all bodies that draw up and implement cultural policy and at the local level.

Our goal is to better organize the management of local cultural resources and products. These plans will be ready in the first quarter of 2025, we will present them to the local communities and then they will be consulted by the relevant bodies, so that we can finally arrive at a strategic plan, completely acceptable to all.

Our second policy is the strengthening of local craft forms and this is something we have worked on systematically over the last five years, again in collaboration with our Universities. By the end of 2025, we are creating two weaving structures in Alexandroupoli and Didymoteicho precisely to strengthen the efforts already made by the local communities, to give them an additional boost.

Very soon let’s get to the projects:

Protection and promotion of the burial mound of Mikri Doxipara-Zoni: Here in Orestiada, Mr. Mayor, at a very short distance from where we are, a unique, unique archaeological find. It has been uncovered by the archaeological dig in 2002, it is time for the project to move forward. It is in full swing and will be a huge cultural as well as developmental resource for the region.

We have 4 burials, 3 male-3 female, we have 5 horse burials, 5 carriages with their underweights which have been preserved in an extremely good condition. So we are creating a museum shell, it is similar to the one in Vergina. The difference is that this one dates back to the 1st century AD. An equivalent has been found a very short distance from here, in Bulgaria, and has already been highlighted. Therefore there is also a very essential connection which will be ensured outside the borders. It is a regional program, we are in the phase of approving an application study, the temporary building permit has been issued. By the end of the year – the contract obviously exists, the contractor is there – the ordinary citizen will now be able to see the work in progress.

Bayezid Mosque at Didymoteicho: It is one of the largest Muslim Ottoman projects in Europe with a wooden roof of one acre. This is the very great difficulty of the work. The project is in the implementation phase, the contractor has been installed, the procedures have been accelerated, the wood needed from foreign companies has been secured. We estimate that at the end of 2025 – as the project is part of the Recovery Fund – the Bayezid Mosque can now be attributed to the Double Wall.

The new museum of Alexandroupoli: You know, we inaugurated it in 2022, I think it was the 13th museum at the time that the Ministry of Culture inaugurated from 2019.

Ancient Zone on Ancient Egnatia Street: An archaeological park dating back to the 7th century BC is in full development. and this is a huge traffic pole.

Archaeological Museum of Samothrace: We inaugurated it a few months ago in the summer, that is, it is a model museum, excellent, educational. This was, Mr. President, the 21st Museum we inaugurated since 2019.

Tower of Fonias in Samothrace: Also a very important monument which is in a very difficult place, in a stream. Climate change is affecting it and we don’t want it to be lost. The works fully strengthen it so that it can also be connected to the broader cultural route of Samothraki, which we have been discussing since the summer, Mr. Mayor, that it is progressing and must progress well.

Your Excellency, together with the Regional Governor, the money for the Cosmosoteira of Feron was secured. And this too is a unique monument of the 12th century, built in 1151, by the Sebastocrator Isaakios Komnenos with all that it means for the area. The local community loves this monument, we want it to be highlighted in its proper dimension.

Finally, Reverend Didymoteichos, these three churches: the two Agioi Athanasios and Agios Panteleimon, in Metaxades, Paliouri and Alepochori: their restorations will be completed very soon. They are also included in the Recovery Fund.

And I will stop here, Mr. President, saying that it is not only these. We are doing a lot of work, in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods in Samothrace, in Plotinopolis and in Didymoteicho Castle. We have finished the research program which now guides us for the management and the interventions, the essential ones that must be done in the castle of Didymoteichos, which for many reasons must be restored and managed by the Greek state, correctly, and as it suits the region.

Thank you very much»

Watch the speech of the Minister of Culture, Linas Mendoni, at the event on: “National Strategy for Regional and Local Development.