“Inaugurating the “Byzantium through the Ages” exhibit, at a museum of importance for all humanity, within the framework of Greece-Russia 2016, we reaffirm, in practice, our common cultural values.
At the same time we are consolidating our bilateral relations in other fields, as well, and passing on our common culture to the younger generations.
This is my third visit to Russia, and I would like to inform you that the Greek Foreign Ministry is working in this direction, supporting educational programmes between our universities, like the “JASON” programme of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
In the autumn, it will be our pleasure to welcome the governor of Saint Petersburg to Thessaloniki; a visit that will upgrade the already very good relations between the two sister cities.
I hope today’s exhibit acts as a springboard for the Russian people’s becoming better acquainted with Byzantine art and Byzantine culture, where they can find reflections of their own culture, and I would like to thank Minister Medinskiy and the organizers for their hospitality.”
June 25, 2016