Ministry research and monitoring the work of academic researchers

Already since 1998, the time limit for keeping the diplomatic documents of Greece classified, was changed from 50 to 30 years, in order to conform with the practice of the majority of European Union countries. The archive collections of YDIA are open to Greek and foreign historians and researchers, and any other citizen with a legitimate interest in them. Research in archival material that has already been digitized may be conducted only through the internet at http://arxeio.mfa.gr. Permission to study the files that have not been digitized yet is granted after submission of an application by the interested party to the Secretariat of YDIA. The application is examined by a committee of diplomatic civil servants that meets in the first ten days of every month. According to related Ministerial Decision, this committee is presided over by the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the Minister, or his deputy, and recommendations are made by the Director of the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives. The candidate researches are requested, along with their application for permit, to submit a curriculum vitae, if requested by the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives, a brief explanatory synopsis of their study, and should their research lead to the award of a doctorate or a post-doctorate degree should also submit a letter of recommendation.

To assist researchers who receive the appropriate study permit, YDIA has a reading room with a capacity of 10 readers, which is open to the research community from Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 14.30. The reading room is closed at weekends, on national and religious holidays, and for the entire months of November and August. Personal portable computers may also be used. Every researcher has the right to order up to 100 photocopies which are made available free of charge. Diplomatic documents are located exclusively by means of the electronic catalogue of YDIA (http://arxeio.mfa.gr), using the computers of YDIA Reading Room that have been installed there for this reason.