Yannis Andritsopoulos, London Correspondent for the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea, writes: Greece unveiled its sparkling, world-class Acropolis Museum on June 20th, 2009. It currently exhibits half of the Parthenon Marbles. The exhibition combines the original marble sculptures with plaster copies of those retained in the British Museum.
Marking the Acropolis Museum’s 13th anniversary, six British MPs and peers have made exclusive comments to the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea, in which they call for the Parthenon Marbles’ reunification.
Greece has been calling for the 2,500-year-old sculptures, held in Britain for more than 200 years, to be repatriated. The campaign was boosted by the recent about-turn by The Times newspaper, which argued for the ancient treasures to be returned to Greece. In repeated polls, Britons have voiced support for the return of the carvings.
Unesco’s committee for repatriation (ICPRCP) announced last month that Greece and the UK have agreed to hold talks on the Parthenon Marbles. According to the ICPRCP, a meeting “will be arranged in due course.”
However, a UK Government spokesperson later told Ta Nea that "the government has not agreed to formal talks about the Parthenon Sculptures."
In comments to Ta Nea, Lord Dubs said: “The marbles should be one entity and not in different countries; they were originally stolen from Greece but above all, they represent something especially important for Greece.”
“There could not be a better moment for the Parthenon Marbles to be reunited in their Athenian home. Let us put international treasures on carefully chartered aeroplanes instead of desperate refugees,” said Baroness Chakrabarti, and a new member of BCRPM.
“It’s not a question of whether rather than when,” commented Lord Campbell-Savours.
“The UK Government should accept that continuing to keep possession of the Parthenon Marbles is an outdated policy, rooted in imperialism,” Margaret Ferrier MP said.
“The British Museum must do the right thing and return them to their rightful home in Greece. Failure to do so is insulting to Greece and her people,” said Dave Doogan MP.
"The Parthenon Marbles must be returned to Greece without delay," said Lord Sikka.
The award-winning British author and BCRPM member Victoria Hislop, who has been granted honorary Greek citizenship, said: “I think it is only a matter of time before all the arguments presented by the Conservative government (itself tottering on the brink) and the British Museum itself turn to dust, and the Greek light shines on the Marbles once again.”
Meanwhile, supporters from across the UK are gathering today at the British Museum to call for the reunification of the sculptures. The protest is organised by the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM).
“We’re gathering at the British Museum to mark the 13th anniversary of the opening of the Acropolis Museum. Serious conversation about the reunification of the greatest work of classic antiquity has been lacking for over 200 years, but the last vestige of an excuse for not returning the Sculptures evaporated 13 years ago,” said Dame Janet Suzman, BCRPM’s chair.
Full comments follow
Independent MP Margaret Ferrier told Ta Nea:
“I’d like to congratulate the Acropolis Museum on their 13th anniversary.
“The UK Government should accept that continuing to keep possession of the Parthenon Marbles is an outdated policy, rooted in imperialism.
“The reality is that we are holding onto a piece of Greek heritage, and one that we have no claim to.
“Entering into a meaningful dialogue with Greece about the Marbles’ return is the very least the Government can do. Returning them to their rightful home is the only morally acceptable outcome.”
SNP MP Dave Doogan told Ta Nea:
“Across the world there exists challenging cases of national treasures bought legitimately by foreign museums in the past, with countries of origin who feel those museums have no right to hold those artefacts today.
“These cases can be complex and nuanced but the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, are no such case. Instead, their continued displacement from the Parthenon is a clear case of the acquiring hand of British exceptionalism.
“I believe the British Museum must do the right thing and return them to their rightful home in Greece. Failure to do so is insulting to Greece and her people.”
Lord Alf Dubs told Ta Nea:
“We need to explain why returning the marbles would be exceptional and not set a precedent for demands for the return of hundreds of works of art all over the world.
“I believe the marbles should be one entity and not in different countries, they were originally stolen from Greece but above all they represent something especially important for Greece.”
Lord Prem Sikka told Ta Nea:
"The UK is the home of the largest collection of culturally significant stolen artefacts and they must be returned to their rightful place and people.
“The Parthenon Marbles belong to Greece and are vital part of its history and identity. They must be returned to Greece without delay. Unesco's intervention is most welcome.
“However, this needs to be broadened to include other nations so they too can recover their artefacts".
Lord Dale Campbell-Savours told Ta Nea:
“The Parthenon Marbles will be returned to Greece. It’s not a question of whether rather than when.”
Baroness Shami Chakrabarti told Ta Nea:
“I send all good wishes to the Acropolis Museum on its auspicious thirteenth birthday. There could not be a better moment for the Parthenon Marbles to be reunited in their Athenian Home; not least to restore some international dignity to a morally reduced United Kingdom.
“Let us put international treasures on carefully chartered aeroplanes instead of desperate refugees. Sadly I do not expect such moral leadership from our current government so I call on civil society in the form of the British Museum to do this ethical and imaginative thing.”
Victoria Hislop’s birthday greetings to the Acropolis Museum
First of all, a very Happy Birthday to you, beautiful Acropolis Museum. I visit you each time I am in Athens and, every time, you take my breath away with your beauty - and your patience.
Why am I sure that your patience will be rewarded?
Because millions of British people feel as I do that the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum should be reunited with those that you were built to accommodate.
Because most in Britain do not share the British Museum’s attitude that this museum is doing everyone a favour by having the Marbles in London to be admired.
Because, however many times the lie is repeated, the truth is that there was no officially stamped “firman” giving Lord Elgin permission to hack the Marbles off the Parthenon. There was merely a letter signed by an official in the Sultan’s court, that allowed him have sketches and moulds taken so that copies could be made. Far from being purchased, the Marbles were obtained by bribing guards to turn a blind eye to their violent and destructive extraction from the Parthenon building.
Lord Elgin (readers in Greece no doubt understand that his title was inherited not earned) is known for nothing except the theft of the Marbles. His was a life of entitlement – and when he was short of money he sold his stolen goods to the British Museum.
And the British Museum did not “preserve them” as they so smugly claim. They allowed them to be scrubbed to make them gleaming white. Hardly conservation.
There is a strong and growing belief that many cultural artefacts and treasures should be repatriated to their country of origin. I think it is only a matter of time before all the arguments presented by the Conservative government (itself tottering on the brink) and the British Museum itself turn to dust, and the Greek light shines on the Marbles once again.
Victoria
This news report was published in the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea (www.tanea.gr) on 18 June 2022, follow the links to read the Greek printed version and the English translation.
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