Lina Mendoni, the Greek Minister of Culture has stated that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has demanded that Britain returns the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum.
A day following the 22nd session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP), Mendoni stated:
"Together with the recommendation that was issued – referring to the poor conditions of exposure that the sculptures are kept in at the British Museum – Greece also achieved a decision from the Intergovernmental Committee that pertains specifically to the return of the Parthenon sculptures."
She also noted:
"The committee urgently calls on the United Kingdom to review is position and enter into a discussion with Greece, recognizing that the issue is of an intergovernmental nature – in contrast to claims from the British side that it is a matter for the British Museum – and mainly that Greece has a valid and legal claim to demand the return of the sculptures to their place of birth."
She added:
"I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the members of the Greek delegation, as well as our Permanent Representation to UNESCO."
The minister called the decision a "particularly significant development".
The sculptures were removed from the Parthenon during the Ottoman Empire between 1801 and 1812 by Lord Elgin who took them to England. Since the liberation of Greece, officials have repeatedly asked for the return of the marbles from Britain to Greece. However, as of last September, the British Museum had stated that it does not intend returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.
[h/t: Greek City Times]
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