During its session held on 8 October 2005, the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) discussed the wish of the Municipal Council of Heraklion to establish a new centre for the study of El Greco's work, independently from the one that has been operating as part of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies of FORTH in Rethymnon for the last 15 years.

The BoD of FORTH expresses its surprise at such an initiative, given the fact that the productivity, the high level of research results and the international recognition of the work produced by "El Greco Centre" of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies do not justify the creation of another research agent at a distance of just 80 km from the one that already exists.

The fact that part of the El Greco's Studio conference was held at the Historical Museum of Crete recently (Semptember 24, 2005) as well as the programmed closer cooperation between the Museum and the El Greco Centre in the immediate future, also guarantee that the birthplace of the Cretan painter will be creatively present in the promotion of his work.

Crete is a uniform cultural and research domain. We must all help support and further develop the efforts that have been accomplished to date.

The Governing Board of FORTH