Nikos Stampolidis, Director of the Acropolis Museum, reviewed Greece's ongoing request for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures by highlighting that this was as much a global wish as it was a national one.

In an interview with Alpha Radio, he emphasized that it is an ethical and fair request on Greece's part. That the issue is intergovernmental and that the return the Parthenon Sculptures to the Acropolis Museum, has always been made for all of humanity.

Commenting on the statements also made by the UK's Minister of Culture, Michelle Donelan, that the UK will not support the return of these sculptures, and that the British Museum cannot divest itself of any of the artefacts it holds without a law change, which she added was not going to happen. Mr. Stampolidis pointed out that such statements made are usually made by those that have a short time in their post.

(*the UK has had many Secretaries of Culture, since 2010, there have been 11 over this 12 year period, and that includes the current Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan)

He also noted the high percentage of British people supporting the return of these sculptures to Greece.

He stressed that the Parthenon's sculptures are a unique case and the monument restorations, because the Parthenon has withstood 2,500 years on the Acropolis.

He then referred to UNESCO's unanimous decisions taken during the ICPRCP meetings in 2021 and 2022. (* Greece has worked tirelessly on this front for over a decade.) He also noted, that those that say "world museums" will be empty should the marbles be returned to Greece, are unable to quantify this claim.

He went on to point out during his interview that Italy returned the Fagan fragment without any conditions, passing the ownerships entirely to the Greek state. The same is happening with the fragments that were in the possession of the Vatican Museums, expected to join the rest of the sculptures of the Parthenon at the Acropolis Museum this spring.

When asked if he has personally spoken with the Chair of the British Museum, Mr. Osborne (the director is Hartwig Fisher), Nikos Stampolidis pointed out that a great deal of what had been reported in the Greek and other nations media had not properly informed readers, that news had been turned into propaganda.

In concluding the interview Nikos Stampolidis said that the Parthenon Sculptures will be able to return to Greece.

(*we sincerely support that thought)

Lord Frost, adds his support for the reunification of the Parhenon Marbles, article by Yannis Andritsopoulos in today's TA NEA, Weekend. The article is in Greek and a translation can be read here.

Yannis writes: 'For the Sculptures to be returned "the law will have to be changed, which I think most British MPs would consent to," notes Lord Frost.

In an article in "Telegraph" last week, the leading Tory politician surprised readers by advocating the reunification of the Sculptures. "I have been supporting this privately since I was studying in Greece," he comments today, revealing that he decided to take a public stand when "TA NEA" brought to light the secret Osborne - Mitsotakis negotiations.'

We welcome Lord Frost's support for the reunification. It is a pity that UK Ministers speak out after they are not obliged to follow Government guidelines on this issue. Today's article in Ta Nea follows on from Michelle Donelan, UK Culture Secretary's announcement on Wednesday 11 January, on BBC News that the UK government has no intention of amending the law or allowng the sculprures removed in questionable circumstances by Lord Elgin at the start of the 19th century to be returned to Greece, because they are part of British culture.

We sincerely hope that these voices, such as those of Lord Frost and former Culture Secretary Ed Vaizey, now speaking out in support for the reunification are doing so as they also acknowledge UNESCO's recommendations and decisions, that the reunification of these specific sculptures is an intergovernmental matter.

Here's to seeing the relentless efforts of Greece answered, a cultural request that is wholly justified, and a UK brave enough to embrace international relations of the cultural kind, facilitating the long awaited reunification of the Parthenon Marbles.

Respect for the Parthenon, and these fragmented sculptures, and their display in the top floor, glass-walled Parthenon Gallery of the Acropolis Museum would celebrate this reunification as a 21st century achievement in cultural heritage dispute resolutions. A celebration for both UK and Greece, and the world as a whole.

To watch the 23rd session of UNESCO's ICPRCP meeting in Paris, 18 May 2022, and the presentations made by both Greece and the UK, follow the link here, staring at 3:20:00, item 6, the Parthenon Sculptures.

In a new article, published by the widely-read centre-right news and comment website ConservativeHome, committee member and political philosopher Dr Rebecca Lowe sets out a moral argument and an aesthetic argument for the return of the sculptures, in the hope of appealing specifically to those of a conservative disposition. The first of these arguments focuses on why democrats should respect "the importance of the marbles to Greece”. The second argument focuses on the aesthetic costs of the separation of the sculptures, and the way in which, as parts of an art object, they “belong together, as well as with the rest of the building”.

To read the full article, click the link here.

Dr Lowe concludes: "if you claim to support democracy, respect for the kind of attachment or belonging that derives from the ‘individuated nature of nations’, or even just the value of tradition, then ask yourself: why Britain, and not Greece?”.

With dialogue happening, we were hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel in the campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. Dialogue that rightly started behind closed doors, and had been ongoing for over 13 months between Greek PM Mitsotakis and the British Museum's George Osborne. Might it had been more prudent to have kept  the priceless dialogue behind closed doors, a bit longer? January has seen a relentless media frenzy in both UK and in Greece.

Huge elation felt when PM Mitsotakis announced at the LSE last November, and reported by Yannis Andritsopoulos in Ta Nea, that dialogue was at last happening, was short lived as on Wednesday 11 January, hopes were shattered. In a news bulletin, a report on the BBC, the UK's Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan speaking with Katie Razzell, the BBC's Culture and Media Editor, dismissed any possibility for the reunification of the sculptures. The 'slippery slope' and 'can of worms' excuses, antiquated in 2023, made a forceful come back.

The report with UK's Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan that made the main BBC News on Wednesday 11 January,  can be viewed here.

Tragically, there seems to be no epiphany for those still in charge of keeping the sculptures divided, and so Sisyphus carries on.

London, Thanasis Gavos

The idea of  "rotating" loans for the sculptures from the Parthenon is unsatisfactory when one also considers that Greece's ask is wholly justified. The ask is for the permanent reunification of all these sculptures. A request that was first made shortly after Greece gained her independence.

British supporters for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles consider the possible "deal" described by a Bloomberg report on Tuesday night to be disappointing.

Citing sources on the ongoing talks, the news articles said parts of the sculptures could be returned over time and "on a rotational basis" from the British Museum to the Acropolis Museum, as part of a "cultural exchange".

In light of this, Professor Paul Cartledge, Vice-Chair of the British Committee for Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM) and Vice-Chair of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures (IARPS), said that he understands that the Bloomberg report has been denied by the Greek Ministry of Culture .

"I can understand why both the British Museum is keen to give the impression that it is not just saying no (to reunification) but that it is interested in some kind of negotiated solution, while on the other hand I fully understand why the Ministry of Culture in Greece would accept nothing less than the return of all that the British Museum and, incidentally, other museums - as a whole and for eternity" the former professor of Ancient Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge told SKAI.

"None of these piecemeal 'here you go, you can have this piece of frieze and then we expect some nice things from you back and then we'll give you some more of the frieze', i.e. we'll lend them to you, we won't give them to you of course," Mr. Cartledge added, rejecting the content of the deal described by Bloomberg sources.

The British professor agrees, however, that even if we have not reached the desired outcome, the constant references to talks and possible agreements prove that progress has been made.

"I think the pressure is intensifying. The fact that the Pope has agreed to give back – and not in some way lend or raise any legal issue – the pieces held by the Vatican Museums, is the latest in a series of different things that have been achieved outside of Britain. All this leads to the conclusion that it is obvious that the British Museum's Chair and Trustees should do the right thing and enter into negotiations on the basis that the relevant laws (preventing reunification) should be amended or withdrawn for this specific case. But also that they wish, not that they are obliged, that they wish to give back (the Sculptures) as they normally should. So there is no doubt that (there is) this  idea of the deal, as if the British Museum has some basis on a moral basis, which we believe it does not have," Professor Cartledge noted.

The rotation of the Sculptures would not solve the issue of ownership. Another thorn, of course, is the British Museum Act of 1963 which prohibits the removal of exhibits from the British Museum's collection.

A possible way out of this is the British Charity Act of 2022, as pointed out by lawyer George Dimaras who specializes in cases of mixed national jurisdiction and works in Greece, Britain and other countries: "Greece's ownership arguments remain strong. However, there is also the recent change in legislation in Britain in 2022 and the Charity Act, which allows museum to request the return of objects found in British museum collections on the basis of moral obligations. Although this is a difficult issue, perhaps the new law could affect decisions regarding the Parhenon Sculptures," the Greek lawyer, George Dimaras told SKAI.

It should be noted, however, that the implementation of two crucial articles of the new law has been put on hold by the British government in order to  carry out additional research in order to "thoroughly asses their impact" on museum collections.

Source: skai.gr

To liten to the report, follow the link here.

Athens fireworks lit up the sky over the Parthenon and the Acropolis

London's fireworks included a tribute to the Queen with drones lighting up the night sky in the shape of the Queen's silhouette

2023 with love from Athens and London, here's to "love and unity". Here's also to the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles.