Presidents of National Committees for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures were welcomed by President of the Republic Konstantinos Tassoulas. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni was also present at the meeting, with whom the presidents of the National Committees are holding consultations to prepare the ground for next steps. “I welcome you with gratitude for your initiatives and for your contribution to our goal of reuniting the Parthenon Sculptures. I know that your efforts around the world have managed to create a very favorable current in public opinion for our vision. The impact on public opinion in your countries and especially in Great Britain is one of the prerequisites for achieving our goal,” said Mr. Tassoulas in his greeting.
“I am certain that sooner or later the Acropolis Museum, which has been characterized as a museum that waits, will welcome this tremendous gesture from the United Kingdom, the return of the Sculptures. We must acknowledge that reunification is not a matter of victory or defeat. No one will be defeated if the Sculptures return and are reunited because the request concerns the global cultural community and is ultimately universal,” he added.
Tassoulas on Parthenon Sculptures: Greek side strengthens its claim’s argumentation
“The Greek side strengthens the argumentation of its claim with tangible evidence of its strong will and practical capability and capacity to protect, preserve, showcase and manage in the optimal and scientifically and technically appropriate way the Sculptures. For decades it has implemented an exemplary and admirable work of conservation, restoration and reconstruction of all the monuments of the Acropolis, including the Parthenon.
It proceeded with the creation of the new Acropolis Museum, a museum dedicated to these monuments, which was designed, erected and equipped with the most modern specifications, in order to house, under the best possible conditions, the Sculptures after their repatriation. In this way it demolished even the last argument of the British Museum that Greece did not have suitable and worthy hosting infrastructure. Sixteen years of exceptionally successful operation of this museum have already been completed, which is counted among the most important and most recognizable, popular and visited in the world.
The Greek side continuously declares its sincere intention to contribute and cooperate creatively within the framework of existing archaeological legislation with the British Museum so that the return of the Parthenon Sculptures does not create a void in its collections and exhibition program, offering in exchange permanent and renewable periodic exhibitions and loans of antiquities of high prestige, artistic and historical importance and value that will maintain undiminished and renew public interest.
It highlights the tremendous possibilities now provided by three-dimensional digital scanning technologies and creation of ultra-high fidelity precise copies, which can excellently serve the “universal” and “encyclopedic” and educational character that the Museum wishes to project.
The Greek side, finally, assisted by the National Committees everywhere and the now particularly sensitized international public opinion, declares that it will continue to utilize the possibilities provided by dialogue and cultural diplomacy with faith, patience and perseverance, but also with enhanced vigor, confidence and persistence, until it achieves the reunification of the Sculptures. At the same time, it does not renounce its right to continue the claim through legal means, if and when this is deemed appropriate or necessary,” he emphasized subsequently.
The meeting was attended by President of the International Association of National Committees (IARPS) and president of the Belgian Committee Christiane Tytgat, vice-president of the International Association and president of the Australian Committee Emanuel Comino, president of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Sculptures and MP Andrew George, vice-president of the Serbian Committee Inès Kljakovic, Ingemar Lindahl President of the Swedish Committee, Cléopâtre Montandon President of the Swiss Committee and Pericles Stambekis President of the American Committee.
The International Association of National Committees for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, known as IARPS (International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures), unites 20 National Committees from 18 countries and supports the efforts of the Greek government.
