Responding to the public interest in the case of damage to the two columns of Nymphaeum, in the Archaeological Park of Apollonia, and to put a stop to disinformation, based only on conjecture and misinterpretation of social networks and no official source, the Ministry of Culture clarifies:

The Ministry of Culture has made no attempt to hide the damage to the two columns, but has followed the legal path to clarify this act of vandalism and has taken immediate measures to draft the project for the reconstruction of theirs.

The two columns of the facade of the monumental fountain of Apollonia were damaged two months ago, during the isolation from Covid 19. They were found damaged during the inspection by the employees of the Office of Administration and Coordination of Archaeological Parks Apoloni and Bylis, on April 13, 2020.

The Local Police Department, Fier, was immediately notified, which immediately arrived at the scene. The incident is now under investigation by the State Police and the Prosecutor’s Office.

At the same time, the Administration and Coordination Office of the Archaeological Parks Apoloni and Bylis has notified the Ministry of Culture and the National Institute of Cultural Heritage.

From the inspection in the field, it was found that the columns have suffered separation of the drums from each other and ciflos. The specialists of the Administration and Coordination Office of the Archaeological Parks Apoloni and Bylis have collected and documented every detached element. According to specialists, there is no irrecoverable loss in the monument.

The Office of Administration and Coordination of the Park has immediately drawn up a restoration project, which has already been approved by the Scientific Council of the Institute of Monuments and the National Council of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture.

The work to rebuild the columns and restore them will start in the coming days.

The Park of Apollonia is one of the most important in our country, with an extension of 700 hectares, and the preservation of these surfaces has shown difficulties over the years.

Like all other state institutions, the Ministry of Culture is cooperating with the State Security Society, “Illyrian Guard”, for the placement under protection of all museums, archaeological sites and institutions of other cultural.

“Illyrian Guard” operates through the digital preservation system, ensuring a better control of the territory, overcoming the problem of the impossibility of physical surveillance of cultural heritage objects.

Condemning this vandal and anti-Albanian act, with full confidence that the State Police will clarify this issue, and those responsible will be brought to justice, the Ministry of Culture calls on every citizen to contribute with high civic responsibility and sensitivity, in preserving our common cultural heritage.