SYRIZA stands against the borrowing and even exchange of the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum according to sources close to the official opposition party, stating that you cannot lend something to its owner and emphasizing at the same time that the position on lending is not consistent with the permanent position of the Hellenic Republic, which is explicitly stated in all international forums and especially to UNESCO by all Greek governments in recent decades.

SYRIZA underlines that it does not recognize in any state and in any legal entity, such as the British Museum, any ownership rights to the stolen Parthenon Sculptures. The attempt by Mr. Mitsotakis, since he was elected Prime Minister in 2019, to join the debate on the loan of the Sculptures violates the national position and strengthens the legal claim of the British Museum regarding the ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures and thus de facto weakens its bargaining power of our country, as they point out.

SYRIZA-PS reiterates its position on the establishment of a permanent Inter-Party Committee of the Parliament, so that all parties can participate in this struggle and know what is going on. A committee that will have cross-party support and an increased majority within the Parliament, creating a climate of unity and transparency. The Commission’s mission will be the internationalization of the issue, on a historical, cultural and moral basis, highlighting its universal dimension, as emphasized. The Committee will co-operate with corresponding national committees in Britain and in various countries, promoting the permanent reunification of the Sculptors, in the face of British and international public opinion and international organisations.
Therefore, SYRIZA emphasizes, we are opposed to initiatives with which the Parthenon Sculptures will become a matter of internal political rivalry.

“In this spirit, defending the position of our country, we condemned the indecent behavior of the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak towards the institution of the Greek Prime Minister”, and underlines that the solution of the issue can only be achieved through the intergovernmental dialogue between Greece and the United Kingdom at the highest level and with the participation of UNESCO.