First Türkiye-Greece Cultural Forum held in Nevşehir

The first edition of the Türkiye–Greece Cultural Forum was held in Nevşehir with the participation of Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, marking a new step in cultural cooperation between the two countries.

During the forum, Minister Ersoy stated that the initiative would add a new dimension to bilateral cultural relations, emphasizing ongoing efforts in the protection of cultural heritage and the fight against illicit trafficking of historical artifacts.

Ersoy recalled that 1,055 coins, identified as having been illegally removed from Türkiye and seized by Greek authorities last year, were returned to Türkiye, describing the restitution as a concrete example of trust-based cooperation between the two countries. He also noted that Türkiye continues to support Greece’s efforts on the international stage regarding the restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni underlined that Türkiye and Greece share a common cultural heritage, stressing that cooperation in the protection of cultural assets and the fight against smuggling has produced positive results. She highlighted the return of the ancient coins to Türkiye as an important symbol of this collaboration.

At the conclusion of the forum, Ministers Ersoy and Mendoni signed a joint declaration aimed at further strengthening cooperation in the field of culture. A presentation was also delivered by Zeynep Boz, Head of the Department for Combating Illicit Trafficking at Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The forum is seen as a significant step toward institutionalizing cultural dialogue between the two neighboring countries.