In the framework of the 24th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Unesco for the Return of Cultural Property to the Countries of Origin (ICPRCP), which completed its work yesterday, discussed the issue of the return of Sculptors of the Parthenonwhich has been firmly on her agenda for 40 years.

The positions of Greece

The Greek delegation presented in detail the history of the case and Greece’s positions on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures, talking about the violent removal of the architectural sculptures from the Acropolis monument, the absence of a firman and relevant sultanic documents and the illegal appropriation of the Sculptures by Lord Elgin, before ending up in the British Museum.

He particularly pointed out the issue of the mistreatment of the Parthenon during their stay in the British Museum and their poor storage conditions, already in the 19th century. until today.

The Greek delegation also informed the members of the Commission about the ongoing, but so far fruitless, efforts of the Greek side to enter into a dialogue with the United Kingdom in order to find a solution to this long-standing issue, in implementation of the UNESCO Recommendations and Decision.

He also mentioned that the Parthenon Sculptures and the symbolism they contain are an integral part of the Greek cultural heritage and the Greek cultural identity. Finally, he called on the United Kingdom, which is a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the first time, to demonstrate in practice its will to comply with the Recommendations and Decisions of the International Organization.

Britain participated for the first time

The United Kingdom, in its own position, insisted on its fixed positions on the matter, reiterating that the legislative framework in force does not allow the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, stressing that there is no intention of the government to change the specific law.

Warm support in Greece

The presentation of the Greek delegation and its arguments were warmly received by the vast majority of the member states of the Intergovernmental Committee (Italy, Czech Republic, Russia, Libya, Iraq, India, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, Gabon, Zambia, Egypt) .

Many observer states (Turkey, Palestine, Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil) strongly supported the Greek positions and emphatically requested the United Kingdom to return the Sculptures to Greece, in order to reunite them with the Parthenon, a monument-symbol of Western Civilization.

The Intergovernmental Committee adopted Recommendationin the text of which, among other things:
• Refers to its previous recommendations and decisions;
• Expresses its deep concern that the resolution of the matter remains pending for a long time,
• Calls once again on the two sides to intensify their efforts to resolve the dispute taking into account the historical, cultural, legal and moral dimensions of the issue,
• Calls on the Director General of UNESCO to help hold the necessary meetings between Greece and the United Kingdom in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures.
• Decides to include the issue of the Sculptures in the agenda of the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee.

The Greek Delegation was attended by the Secretary General of Culture Georgios Didaskalou, the Director General of the Acropolis Museum Prof. Nikolaos Stambolidis, the Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Olympia Vikatos and the Head of the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Assets Vasiliki Papageorgiou. From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Head of the Department of International Law, Artemis Papathanasiou, and from the Permanent Representation of Greece to UNESCO, Ambassador Georgios Koumoutsakos, participated.