 |
| Add caption |
Lead Consultant: Dr. Ioanna Mastora
Resolution United Nations a61/15, November 2006
In this era of globalization, it is important for nations to be able to preserve their historical and cultural identity, while interacting and cooperating to overcome past limitations. It is self - evident this cooperation and cultural exchange, should be based upon moral principle and ethical codes of conduct. Greece in cooperation with other nations and institutions, so far this year has been successful in retrieving a number of antiquities exiled abroad. Two important antiquities from the J.P. Getty Museum in L.A., have been repatriated, while negotiations for the return of two more items from the same museum are making progress. Also, two important fragments from the Acropolis, one from the Parthenon frieze, have been returned. One fragment came from Heidelberg University. The other presented as a private donation from a collection in Sweden. These achievements confirm the necessity for the preservation of this monument, which although situated in Greece belongs to the whole world.
Art graphics: John Roussos
Yet, the Parthenon Sculptures remain dislodged and divided. The uniqueness of the Parthenon, as monumental symbol of Western Civilization, is the critical argument, and the demand for their return is ecumenical. Especially now, that the construction of the New Acropolis Museum is nearing completion. It is our ambition that the new museum will shelter all extant parts of the Parthenon, and is expected to include the disputed Sculptures we claim must be returned by the British Museum. The reunification and restitution of antiquities serves to complete a cultural mosaic, which has been disturbed and lies today in disarrangement. It presents a disrupted image, which exactly due to the plundering of some integral parts becomes distorted, misleading and traumatic. When we are capable of tracing the cultural outline of each nation, through the repatriation of antiquities unlawfully removed, we provide for solid foundations not just for the present, but also for posterity and future generations.
The cultural heritage of each nation is the cultural heritage of the sum total of humanity. All mankind must respond to it responsibility to protect this legacy!
ΤΑ ΜΑΡΜΑΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΡΘΕΝΩΝΑ "Τα μάρμαρα του Παρθενώνα είναι το σύμβολο της Δημοκρατίας, η υπερηφάνεια μας, η ψυχή μας. Είναι φόρος τιμής στη Δημοκρατική Φιλοσοφία, η φιλοδοξία και το όνομά μας, η ουσία της Ελληνικότητάς μας".
ΜΕΛΙΝΑ ΜΕΡΚΟΥΡΗ (1920-1994)
