International Campaign for the protection of Greek cultural heritage Association of Greek Archaeologists

The International Appeal’s press conference was met with great interest from international media in Athens today. Among others the event was attended by The Associated Press, Thomson Reuters, Radio France, the Chinese agency CCTV International, RIA Novosti, the German public channel ARD, the Athens News Agency, Anadolu Ajansi, as well as many European newspapers and other radio stations.
The president of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, Despina Koutsoumba, the Secretary George Riginos and the member of the board Amalia Tsitouri addressed the journalists and raised issues regarding problems occurring from budget cuts predicted in the austerity plan of the Greek government.
Foreign journalists have been particularly interested in how the limited funding could influence the adequate protection of antiquities and maintenance of the research projects. The members of the Association responded that these cuts “are indefensible even on a strictly practical economic level, considering that the government devotes less than 1% of the National Budget to the Ministry of Culture. The protection of Museums and antiquities are Greece’s social wealth as well as a national income producing resource”.
The Association questioned the policies implemented by the Ministry of Culture and asked from the Ministered to reconsider his position regarding the funding and the stuff reduction of the archaeological service.
Hundreds of people have expressed their support for our campaign, including archaeologists from other countries, politicians as well as admirers of the Greek antiquities.
http://www.sea.org.gr/press/pages/viewpress.aspx?PressID=111