International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures

The latest newsletter from the Marbles Reunited campaign in the UK is now available to download.

You can download is from their website here. There is also an archive of previous newsletters here.

Pavlos Geroulanos, Greece's Culture Minister, has met with the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles in London.

Greek Culture Minister Meets with British Committee for Restitution of Parthenon Marbles
Posted on 08 November 2011

A meeting was held among representatives of the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and the Greek Minister of Culture and Tourism Pavlos Geroulanos, who travelled to the United Kingdom in order to attend the London Tourism Exhibition.

The meeting’s attendees included the British Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, Andrew George, who promotes the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Moreover, the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles believes that Joanna Lumley would be a great supporter of the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, since in her recent documentary named “Greek Odyssey” she was promoting Greek culture and tourism.

According to sources, Joanna Lumley had a meeting with the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor during which she said that she thinks that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to their proper place in Greece.

Finally, the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles has made known to British People that the London 2012 Olympic Games could probably be the right time for Britain to do something for the better, by returning the Parthenon Marbles to their rightful place in Greece.

Read the original article here.

Andrew George MP, Chair of Marbles Reunited, writes for Politics.com about why now is the right time to return the sculptures.

Comment: No bailout, but will the Elgin marbles do?
Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:35 AM
We might not want to be involved in the bail out, but returning the Elgin Marbles would show we are Greece’s friend.
By Andrew George MP

Whilst the current financial crisis dominates all current press coverage relating to Greece, there is no reason why we should use this as an excuse to ignore other key Anglo-Hellenic issues.

At present, news coming from Greece is predominantly negative – returning the Parthenon Sculptures (popularly known as the Elgin Marbles) would give people there something positive – a reason to celebrate and something that would increase the tourist draw to the country, helping to revive their economy.

Co-incidentally, June 20th 2011 marked the second anniversary of the opening of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens – an event that raised the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles to a level of global interest. Britain however continues to act as though nothing has changed.

Although the Parthenon Sculptures existed in Greece for over 2000 years, the British Museum has had them for less than 200 years, yet seems to feel that they are now as much a part of the museum as they are a part of Greece’s history.

[...]

Read the rest of the article here.

Andrew George MP, Chair of Marbles Reunited, has used Prime Minister's Questions to find out David Cameron't views on the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

ANDREW GEORGE MP, HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1A 0AA
PRESS RELEASE, Wednesday 22nd June 2011, For immediate release
Losing our marbles?

The MP who leads the British campaign for the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles called upon the Prime Minister not to provide a unilateral contribution to the Greek bail out but to give the Marbles back.

In his question to the PM he said that the return of the ‘Elgin’ Marbles would help to regenerate the flagging Greek economy and put right a wrong committed over 200 years ago.

The Prime Minister refused to consider such a proposal but Mr George argues that public opinion is on his side and that following the recent creation of the new Acropolis Museum Athens would be a far better place for the Marbles, whilst the casts which the British Museum sent to Athens to replace them could be returned for display in London.
ENDS

View Andrew George's website here.

As part of their social media strategy, the Marbles Reunited campaign can now be followed on Twitter at @marblesreunited.