More particularly, the E1 Department  of Educational and Cultural Affairs is responsible for:

• negotiating and signing Cultural Agreements with foreign countries 
•  negotiating and signing Cultural Programs
• monitoring the implementation of Cultural Programs and exchanges sponsored by them
• materializing cultural exchanges and events
• granting scholarships to students of Greek and foreign origin
• monitoring the activities of cultural and scientific institutions abroad and the of University Chairs of Greek interest.
• the relations of Greece with UNESCO

Scholarships

The E1 Department of Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants scholarships to students of foreign or Greek origin for pre-graduate studies held at Universities and Technological Education Institutes (TEIs), as well as for postgraduate studies or for the elaboration of a doctoral thesis at Greek Universities.

The scholarships are provided for an initial period of one academic year (for those who need to follow modern Greek language lessons) and an additional period of studies at University and TEI Departments depending on the number of years  required for the direction followed.

Approximately 600 scholarships have been granted  to foreign nationals (of Greek or foreign origin).

Our scholarship holders were invited, in the course of the academic year 2001-2002, to fill in 'registration forms' with a view to facilitating the systematic monitor-ing of the progress they have made in their studies.

A set of 'regulations' has also been drawn up (see 'Directions to scholars of the Foreign Ministry's Department E1'),  informing the scholarship holders of their rights and obligations.

It should be noted that there are a number of other institutions (both private and public) granting scholarships to foreign nationals for studies in Greece.

Among the public ones are the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY), which is supervised by that Ministry, the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Merchant Marine, the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and the Foreign Ministry's Department for Religious Affairs.

Instructions for Scholars of the Foreign Ministry's Cultural Affairs Department

Each scholarship covers the following:

• One academic year for Greek language lessons, if this is deemed necessary
• A period of time corresponding to the required years of studies.
• An additional period of time required for obtaining a degree, i.e., until June of the year following the completion of the studies.

The Pre-graduate studies scholarships are renewed on condition that  the scholarship holder successfully passes (in the three examination periods of each academic year) 70% of his/her courses in the first and second year and 80% of his/her courses from the third year onwards.

Postgraduate studies scholarships cover:

• One academic year for Greek language lessons, if necessary.
• Two years of studies (until June). In special cases the scholarship may be ex-tended  for one additional year.

Postgraduate studies scholarships are renewed upon the supervising professor's certification that the scholar's progress has been satisfactory.

Scholars are required to attend their courses regularly and participate  in all the exams, so that their performance should be characterized by continuity and stability.

Scholarships may be suspended not only on the grounds of unsatisfactory academic progress, but also as  a result of unlawful or improper behavior.

University Chairs of Hellenic Studies

The Foreign Ministry's Cultural Affairs Department  subsidizes a number of Chairs and Centers of Hellenic Studies at foreign Universities, according to its ap-proved annual regular  budgeted outlay. For the better coordination of the Greek institutions which are active in the field of support and advancement of Hellenic Studies abroad, an Inter-ministerial Committee was recently established, under Law 2413/96, on  "Cross-cultural Education". This Committee, which is headed by the Special Secretary for Cross-cultural Education of the Ministry of Education, is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, the Institute for the Education of Foreign Nationals of Greek Origin and for Cross-cultural Education, the Greek Culture Foundation and the Greek Language Center.

The task of the Committee consists primarily in the recording of the foreign Universities syllabi of Greek interest (by way of creating a complete and reliable da-tabase) and, further, in  the evaluation of those syllabuses, with the ultimate objective of drawing conclusions that will lead to a more rational distribution of appropriations provided by the Government institutions involved in the efforts of supporting Greek studies outside Greece.

Cultural Agreements and Programs

Cultural Agreements and Bilateral Executive Programs  provide  the institu-tional framework within which our cultural exchanges with other countries are ad-vanced, with the necessary funding secured in advance. For the drawing up and nego-tiation of the Cultural Agreements and their Executive Programs, the Foreign Minis-try's Department for Cultural Affairs, cooperates closely with other state entities (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Press and Media, General Secretariat for Youth, General Secretariat for Sports, General Secretariat for Research and Technology).

It is the object of this Department to continue negotiating such Agreements and Executive Programs with as many countries as possible.

Cultural Centers

In addition to the Cultural Centers or Institutes already operating in Greece, the establishment of new foreign Cultural Centers was recently promoted. More par-ticularly :

Within the framework of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Greece, an Agreement was signed between the Hellenic Republic and the Russian Federation on the mutual establishment of Cultural Centers in Greece and Russia.

Furthermore, a Special Agreement has been signed establishing the framework for the operation of the Egyptian Cultural Center in Athens. This Agreement not only ensures the smooth operation of the Alexandrian Branch of the Greek Culture Foundation, but also accords us the possibility of establishing a Hellenic cultural center in Cairo.

Cultural Events

In cooperation with Greek Diplomatic and Consular Missions, as well as with other institutions (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Hellenic Film Center, General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad, National Theater, National Opera, Museums etc.), the Foreign Ministry's Cultural Affairs Department supports and advances cul-tural, artistic and other exchanges and events aimed at projecting and promoting  Greek Culture Weeks, performances of music and dance groups, the holding of semi-nars and lectures, as well as the staging of  folklore exhibitions etc.).

More particularly, in view of the 2004 Olympic Games and the Greek Presi-dency of the European Union (first semester of 2003), a multifaceted program of cul-tural activities, which focuses primarily on activities in the member  states of the European Union and, selectively, in other countries, is under elaboration, with the aim of promoting, in an appropriate manner, the cultural identity and heritage of our coun-try.

The Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice

The Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice was estab-lished in 1951 as a Legal Entity of Public Law, supervised and subsidized by the Hel-lenic Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education. The supervision is exercised by two three-member Committees, the Supervising Committee and the Managing Committee, composed of representatives of the two co-competent Ministries. The Director of the Institute is in charge of its scientific work and operation in general.

The Institute pursues a scientific-research objective. In particular, it publishes works by Greek and foreign scientists, as well as an annual scientific periodical enti-tled 'Thisavrismata', in which research studies are published. Furthermore, it organ-izes scientific conferences and seminars. Finally, the Institute offers hospitality - free of charge - to researchers and scientists working on their dissertations.

In order to promote research on the Post-Byzantine Period, the Institute offers a total of six postgraduate-studies scholarships, particularly to Greek scientists, for periods ranging from 1 to 3 years. Scholars are offered accommodation as well as a monthly allowance.

The Institute is endowed with significant assets, both immovable and movable, as a result of donations from the Greek Community of Venice. These assets include thirty-five real-estate properties (mainly apartments and shops), including architec-tural monuments of particular cultural significance, such as the church of Saint George, the Institute's Museum and the Flanginis School.

The Institute also owns approximately 300 precious  icons, (including three Palaeologean works), 250 objects and liturgical vessels,  the Archives of the Hellenic Community of Venice (1498-1953), and a collection of old manuscripts. Exceptional samples of this Collection are 'the Romance of Alexander the Great', a Byzantine manuscript with miniatures, the Collection of Musical Byzantine Manuscripts, as well as Patriarchal documents dating back to the 16th century.

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