Firstly, allow me to apologize for my absence from today's final event of such significance for the Republic of Cyprus and our Ministry. However, my presence at the Competitiveness Council Meeting for Research and Space of the European Union, in Brussels, was necessary.

I would say that today is such a celebration of culture for our region, as we have successfully created a platform for cultural digital assets with the power provided by technology. The dissemination of cultural wealth for the future generations of EU Member States is indeed a significant goal of public policy in the EU. This goal has been realized through the implementation of the Twin IT Europeana program, focusing on the "pan-European initiative for the three-dimensional digitization of objects, monuments, and sites of cultural wealth."

3D technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to promote this objective, expanding access to culture, supporting digital preservation, and promoting the reuse of Europe's cultural resources. The Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK), which also holds the UNESCO Chair for the last 5 years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Research, has successfully gathered our cultural heritage in one place. This place will become a temple of culture and knowledge for Cyprus and the entire Europe. I am confident that the Deputy Ministry of Culture will leverage this digital tool for the culture of our country.

This initiative is timeless and can be enriched with our cultural wealth every day. The preservation and knowledge of cultural heritage are essential for a state that aims to understand its history, identity, and achieve continuous social development. At the same time, it can become a tourist attraction and, consequently, an economic resource for a country.

For 220 years, it has been a longstanding demand of the Greeks for the return of the sculptures to where they belong – to Greece. We stand in solidarity with the Greek people who are reclaiming their cultural wealth, which, as mentioned earlier, we have a duty to preserve and transmit always to where it belongs.
In conclusion, I would like to extend my congratulations to all who contributed to today's project, especially to the Cyprus University of Technology, a university that represents our country abroad with dignity and makes us all proud.


*The Deputy Minister’s speech was read by the Spokesperson of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Ms Theodosia Apostolou.