The Greek Red List was presented by ICOM’s Greek office in collaboration with the Greek Culture Ministry, with support from the ICOM Secretariat. A roundtable discussion was held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Red List initiative, attended by representatives from UNESCO, INTERPOL, UNIDROIT, and legal advisors, with Greece represented by Dr. Artemis Papathanassiou, Head of the Special Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.

From left to right: Sophie Delepierre (Head of Heritage Protection Department ICOM Secretariat), Sunna Altnoder (Chair of Unit, Illicit trafficking and return and restitution, Cultural Sector, UNESCO), Artemis Papathanassiou (Head of the Special Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Marina Schneider, Tiziano Coiro (Coordinator Works of Art Unit, INTERPOL)

Greece has been included in the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Red Lists of countries, an initiative aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts.

“Greece’s commitment to cultural heritage protection is anything but new. For decades Greek authorities and dedicated professionals, such as ICOM Greece, have joined forces to develop a strong legal framework and operational tools to protect their immense cultural heritage. With the new ICOM Red List for Greek Cultural Objects at Risk, another stone is added to this edifice of cultural heritage protection.” Sophie Delepierre, Head of ICOM Heritage Protection Department.

ICOM (International Council of Museums) and ICOM Greece, in cooperation with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, launched of the ICOM Red List of Greek Cultural Objects at Risk, a significant tool designed to help fight the illicit trafficking of Greek cultural heritage.

The Red Lists categorize cultural objects most at risk of theft and illegal trade, providing a valuable tool for law enforcement and customs officials to identify and protect vulnerable items.

“The illicit trafficking of antiquities and cultural goods remains a significant threat, both in times of peace and war,” said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni at an event that took place at the Acropolis Museum. “This is not just illegal activity but a highly organized international crime network linked to terrorism.”

Minister Mendoni highlighted the need for international cooperation, sharing information, and using both human and material resources to combat this crime.

The newly established Greek Red List is designed to help identify cultural objects most vulnerable to trafficking. Unlike lists of stolen items, it features artefacts commonly targeted by traffickers, many of which are now in Greek museum collections or recognized institutions. Some of these objects were repatriated or voluntarily returned by foreign institutions.

ICOM has been publishing Red Lists since 2000, collaborating with national and international experts to cover regions most at risk of cultural trafficking - areas with rich ancient civilizations. 

22 August 2019 during a State visit to France, Greece's Prime Minister Mitsotakis asked President Macron for the loan from the Louvre of a metope.This request was made for Greece's bicentennial independence celebrations in 2021. The Louvre would, in return, receive a collection of bronze artefacts from Greece. 

Paul Cartledge, professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge and the vice chairman of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles and the IARPS (International Association) commented to The Art Newspaper: " We hope for and expect much more: the reunification in the Acropolis Museum of all bits of the Parthenon held in museums outside Greece—not only [the sculptures] from the British Museum. The Greek government will certainly reciprocate most handsomely with spectacular loans, such as those going to the Louvre no doubt will be.”

To read The Art Newspaper article, please follow the link here.

On 22 March, Alexander Herman wrote an article also in The Art Newspaper explaining the difficulties that surround recognition and admission of title. If the British Museum were ever to consider a long-term loan of the pieces, Greece would need to first accept that the trustees hold title, an acceptance successive Greek governments have never been willing to make.

"But title need not be so contentious. Perhaps the Greek government could accept the simple premise that the trustees hold title under English law, but go no further? This would not have to relate to the circumstances of acquisition in Athens. It need only be a recognition that a run-of-the-mill Act of Parliament settled the question of English title back in 1816. Likewise, the British Museum would need to understand that title is a nationally derived right and does not automatically guarantee rights at an international level. This could perhaps allow the parties to put the question of title aside" writes Alexander Herman.

While a loan might not result in Greece's long awaited permanent restitution, it would bring some pieces back to the Acropolis Museum, where they would be seen by millions in their original context with views to the Parthenon, which still stands. Marking a memorable event and breaking of the deadlock by starting a dialogue between London and Athens.

Read more on this article here.

31 August & 01 September Helena Smith reported in the Guardian and Observer that Prime Minister Mitsotakis would be looking for a loan from the British Museum to coincide with Greece's bicentennial independence celebrations in 2021.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis explained that “given the significance of 2021, I will propose to Boris: ‘As a first move, loan me the sculptures for a certain period of time and I will send you very important artefacts that have never left Greece to be exhibited in the British Museum’.”

Adding: “Of course our demand for the return of the sculptures remains in place. I don’t think [Britain] should be fighting a losing battle. Eventually this is going to be a losing battle. At the end of the day there is going to be mounting pressure on this issue.”

There are 21,000 known archaeological sites in Greece,” said the culture minister, Lina Mendoni, a classical archaeologist. “We have 10 times more than we can possibly exhibit. Almost every day something valuable is found. We want to export these cultural assets.”

Read the updated Guardian (04 September 2019) article here.