Resolution in Cypriot House of Representatives
Submitted by Communications ... on Thu, 2006-11-16 20:45RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus,
Having debated the issue of the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, at its meeting today,
Resolves as follows:
- Joins its voice to that of other countries´ parliaments and the European Parliament and asks for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, stressing the need of their reintegration to the temple of Parthenon, as an act, which would constitute a gesture of solidarity and mutual respect for the common European cultural heritage and the particular civilisations that shape it.
- Expresses its undivided support to Greece and Greeks all over the world, in their efforts to bring the marbles home.
- Calls upon the Government of the United Kingdom to exercise its influence so that the British Museum positively examines and responds to Greece’s request for the return of the Parthenon marbles to the place of which they form an integral part, contributing through this gesture to the reinforcement of the message of cooperation, peace, solidarity and mutual respect across Europe.
- Calls upon all countries, European in particular, to positively assist Greece in its efforts to bring the Parthenon marbles back home, a gesture, which can constitute the beginning for the return of other cultural monuments to the States they belong to.
- Calls upon UNESCO, which chose the ancient Greek temple as its emblem, as well as upon other international cultural bodies, to exercise substantial pressure for the return of the Parthenon marbles without delay to the country where they really belong, for they constitute an integral part of the collective memory and history of the Greek people and a symbol of democracy, which their homeland gave birth to and passed on as a gift to humanity.
9 November 2006
Brasileiros em defesa do Partenon
Submitted by Communications ... on Sun, 2006-07-02 10:45An article on Brazilian initiatives to reunite the Parthenon sculptures in Athens has been covered by Jornal do Brasil, a national newspaper in Brazil.
An electronic copy of the article can be read on the newspaper's website here:
Brasileiros em Defesa do Partenon
Brazil joins the international campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.
Submitted by Communications ... on Sun, 2006-05-07 15:50NEWS UPDATE
May 6, 2006
Today it was announced that The Brazilian Committee the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles has joined the International Association for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.
The Chairman of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, David Hill said he welcomed the addition of such and esteemed group to the international campaign. The Executive of the Brazilian committee includes
Emeritus President: Jacyntho Lins Brandao, Professor of Greek Literature, Federal University of Minas Gerais.
President: Tereza Virginia Ribeiro Barbosa, Professor of Greek Literature, Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Vice President: Celina Figueiredo Lage, Translator of Greek Literature and Independent researcher.
Secretary: Antonio Martinez de Rezende, Professor of Latin Language, Federal University of Minas Gerais
Treasurer: Imaculada Maria Guimaraes Kangussu, Professor of Philosophy, Federal University of Ouro Preto
Brazil joins other nations as Members of the International Association including Australia, Belgium, Britain, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden and the USA.
Contact details for the Brazilian Committee can be found on their members page
British Parliament Motion calling for the Return of the Parthenon Sculptures
Submitted by Communications ... on Sun, 2006-05-07 15:47NEWS UPDATE
May 4, 2006
The International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures today welcomed the tabling of a motion in the British House of Commons calling for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures from London to Athens.
The Early Day Motion has been tabled by Eddie O'Hara, M.P. on May 3, 2006. Eddie O'Hara has been an active and dedicated campaigner for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures for many years.
The motion reads;
That this House welcomes the establishment of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, a federation of national associations from around the world which share the goal of reuniting the world's surviving Parthenon sculptures in the new Acropolis Museum in Athens; agrees that the Parthenon is one of the world's finest surviving ancient monuments as attested by its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; further agrees that over 100 pieces of the sculptures and architectural elements of the Parthenon currently on display in the Duveen Gallery of the British Museum are exhibited in a spurious configuration divorced from their proper architectural and compositional context; further agrees that the continued insistence of the British Museum that the sculptures should remain in London is at odds with British and world public opinion which overwhelmingly supports the reunification of the surviving Parthenon sculptures in Athens, and wholly counter to the fast growing spirit of international co-operation over the location and display of disputed museum objects; notes that more people now visit the Acropolis than the Duveen Gallery; and joins with the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon sculptures in calling upon the British Museum and the Government to respond to the Greek government's offer of collaboration between the two museums for the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures and their ultimate display in the new Acropolis Museum, thus making them available to the maximum number of people in their optimum artistic context.
Previous motions and surveys suggest overwhelming support in the House of Commons for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens. In addition to support for earlier motions tabled by Eddie O'Hara, The Economist magazine published a poll in May 2000, which revealed that 66% of Members of the House of Commons said they would vote for the Marbles to be returned.
Polls also reveal overwhelming British public support for the return of the Sculptures. A poll in 2004 was consistent with all earlier surveys and showed that 73% said Britain should allow the sculptures to be reunited with the other surviving sculptures in Athens
Declaration on the Parthenon Sculptures
Submitted by Communications ... on Sat, 2006-03-25 08:00Below follows a declaration which represents the shared aims of the member organisations of the International Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE REUNIFICATION OF THE PARTHENON SCULPTURES *
DECLARATION.
The sculptures currently in the British Museum were once an integral part of the Parthenon, the temple that stands at the summit of the Acropolis in Athens. Built at the high point of classical Greek achievement in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon remains an unparalleled achievement in the fusion of engineering, architecture and art. The temple’s magnificent marble statues, metopes and frieze, which are not independent works of art but indivisible elements of the Parthenon, are widely regarded as among the world’s finest surviving ancient art works. The Parthenon and the other monuments on the Acropolis are officially recognized as a World Heritage Site.
Over 100 pieces of the sculpture and some architectural elements, which are critical to the full appreciation of the beauty and design of the monument, were removed by the British Ambassador Lord Elgin in the early 19th century from the Acropolis when Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire and moved into the British Museum in 1816. They are exhibited in London in a spurious configuration, divorced from their architectural framework and proper context.
The continued insistence by the British Museum that the sculptures remain in London runs wholly counter to the fast growing atmosphere of international cooperation over the location of disputed museum objects. Reuniting them with the half of the sculptures that remain in Athens would restore to the art its fuller meaning and be of greater benefit to humanity, particularly since more people now visit the Acropolis in Athens than visit the Duveen Gallery of the British Museum. The retention of the sculptures in the British Museum is also at odds with British and world public opinion, which has overwhelmingly supported the reunification of the surviving Parthenon sculptures in Athens.
The Parthenon sculptures are of undeniable importance to the heritage of both Greece and the world at large. The potential now exists for Britain and Greece to reach agreement on the reunification of the sculptures beside the Acropolis - a development that would be of benefit for the people of both countries and indeed all nations not only for today but also for generations to come. The International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures calls on the British Government and the Greek Government to initiate government to government negotiations to achieve early reunification in the new Acropolis Museum of the Parthenon sculptures now in London and Athens.
* The International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures is an organization of 12 national committees from Australia, Belgium, Britain, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden and the USA that are committed to the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens.