UNESCO Session Examines Return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece

The room containing the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum. Photo source: wikimedia / Jay.M

The return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece was on the agenda of the 24^th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP) held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris last week.

The news was announced by the Greek Culture Ministry which added that the issue of the illegally removed Greek sculptures has been on the UNESCO agenda for 40 years.

During the session, Greece presented its arguments and facts concerning the highly publicized case which concerns the return to Greece of the 2,500-year-old marble sculptures which were illegally removed by Lord Elgin from the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Athens in 1817 and later sold to the British Museum, where they are its among its leading and most profitable exhibits.

Among others, Greece cited the poor maintenance and lack of care for the Marbles by the British Museum and the fruitless efforts for dialogue with the UK on the issue.

Greece reiterated its position that the Parthenon Sculptures comprise an integral part of Greek cultural heritage and identity and called on the UK to demonstrate its will to comply with UNESCO recommendations and decisions.

On its part, the UK said once again that under current UK law the return of the ancient Greek works of art is not possible, adding that the government has no intention of changing the existing law.

In an unexplainable move late last year, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis claiming the issue of the return of the Greek Marbles was not on the agenda. Despite an ever-growing number of supporters worldwide calling for the Greek Marbles’ return, the British Museum has repeatedly refused.

In support of Greece’s call during the 24^th UNESCO session last week were Italy, the Czech Republic, Russia, Libya, Iraq, India, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, Gabon, Zambia, Egypt, and observer countries Turkey, Palestine, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Brazil.

Among others, the Committee issued a recommendation reiterating its previous recommendations and decisions; expressing its deep concern that the resolution of the matter remains pending; called on the two sides to intensify their efforts to resolve the dispute taking into account the historical, cultural, legal, and moral dimensions of the issue; called on the Director-General of UNESCO to help hold the necessary meetings between the two countries in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution; and placed the issue on the agenda of the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee.