“We are working single-mindedly and methodically for the return of the Sculptors and we believe that the goal is closer than ever in fifty years” emphasized Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni answering a Topical Question of the Freedom of Navigation MP Alexandros Kazamias regarding “the dinner in the room with the Parthenon Sculptures in London and the attitude of the Greek government regarding their return”.
The minister underlined that “the definitive return and reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures is not an easy task at all. Negotiations with the British Museum require time and patience. This Government has patience, perseverance and is working systematically on this matter” and added “the Government has a strategy, but a strategy that is revealed is not a strategy. The negotiations are not secret. Every negotiation when it is “under the light of the sun”, and you make your arguments known, you have automatically lost a very large part of your business advantage”. We, said the minister, “what we do in every case is: to respond to the challenges, we strengthen the dialogue, we exhaust the tools of cultural diplomacy, we systematically inform the politicians and the scientific community”. The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the minister said, “is working single-mindedly and methodically for the return of the Sculptors and we believe that the goal is closer than ever in fifty years”.
Regarding the recent dinner at the Duveen Gallery, Mrs. Mendoni emphasized that “such actions actually strengthen Greece’s arguments for the need to reunite the Sculptors. Such actions are obviously against both the safety and the integrity of the Sculptures. At the same time, such actions also weaken any claim of the British side, because any arguments of the British side have been refuted a long time ago.”
Regarding the Greek request, Mrs. Mendoni stated that “the repatriation of parts of the sculptural decoration that have taken place, the security gaps that have been revealed in the British museum, the incorrect approach it has to the value and uniqueness of the Sculptors, all of this exponentially increases the momentum that the Greek request has acquired internationally”.
Mrs. Mendoni pointed out that “everything substantial and tangible has been done regarding the return of the Sculptors in the last 50 years, this has been done in the last six years” saying, among other things, that “at UNESCO from 1982 to 2021, we only received recommendations and the only Decision for the return was that of 2021. Last week, at the UNESCO General Conference, the minister said “I raised the issue directly with all the Member States and most of the States, through their Ministers of Culture, are now in favor of the reunification of the Sculptors. Also, the members of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the return of cultural property to their countries of origin have strengthened their voice, such as the Director General of Antiquities of Egypt who spoke very openly on this issue. The international environment is absolutely favorable for the reunification and repatriation of illegally exported cultural goods,” said Mrs. Mendoni.
The minister, commenting on the reports of the Freedom of Navigation MP about the favorable momentum that exists internationally for the repatriation of the Sculptors, stated that “this is not accidental and has something to do with the implementation it is implementing. Nothing moves by itself, it is the result of the policy and the specific strategy we follow. There is no international forum where we do not take the lead on this issue.”
The Member of Parliament for Freedom of Navigation, Alexandros, for his part, reported that this dinner held on October 18 in the hall of the British museum that hosts the Parthenon Sculptures and the Greek Ministry of Culture made a strong statement of protest a little later, emphasizing the provocative indifference of the museum to the sculptures and the offensive actions that endanger the exhibits. So does the Speaker of the House. At the same time, the MP observed, “the sad reality is that the British Museum is once again treating the Parthenon Sculptures as if they were a decorative private collection, without respecting or counting anyone”. Mr. Kazamias argued that “this discrediting of the British museum is taking place at a time when the Greek Government is conducting multi-year secret negotiations for the reunification of the Parthenon monument” and wondered whether the choice of secret negotiations bring about progress in the claim.
OR Freedom Sailing said the deputy “on this matter he takes a consensual position because it is a national issue, but we believe that the Government’s position and these secret negotiations are not the appropriate and effective strategy, especially at the present time” when the theft in the British museum took place in 2023, we have the statement of the representative of Turkey to UNESCO who stated that there was never an Ottoman firman that gave permission to Elgin to transfer the sculptures, as well as that 60% of British public opinion is in favor of a return. In this context, the member of parliament asked whether the secret diplomacy allows the museum to adopt a delaying tactic leading to the loss of a historical momentum that exists. To what extent does the Greek Government consider that any progress is being made on the issue of the return of the Sculptors, when at the same time the British museum holds dinners like the one in October that discredit and endanger the safety of the Sculptors. Also, from the lack of tangible results, is it now time for a radical review and upgrade of our country’s campaign in the direction of a strong and more dynamic inter-parliamentary internationalization and claim for return?”