Nobody can stop an idea whose time has finally come. This column has written on many occasions about how the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles has gone from being a national demand to an international imperative, supported by leading figures from around the world who want to see the parts of the UNESCO-listed monument reunited. But it will take more than being in the right to get back the marbles that Thomas Bruce, the seventh earl of Elgin, dismantled and took away in 1801, when Athens was under Ottoman rule. With the permission of the sultan, Lord Elgin, then the British ambassador to Constantinople, had the Parthenon friezes cut up and transported to England, where they were bought by the British government. It, in turn, donated them to the British Museum in London where they have remained since. What was needed, as Melina Mercouri told a plenary session of UNESCO in 1982, when, as the country's culture minister, she initiated her campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, was "a new museum to house them," given that the existing Acropolis museum was already full. In order to build the museum, Mercouri's husband, the noted American-born French filmmaker Jules Dassin created the Melina Mercouri Foundation, to which he donated his fortune. The state undertook the project, putting distinguished architect Dimitris Pantermalis at the helm. Renowned architect Bernard Tschumi collaborated with Greek architect Michalis Fotiadis in designing the project that is today coming to fruition opposite the Acropolis. While the British Museum continues to insist that the marbles should stay in the English capital where visitors from all over the world come to see them in the Duveen Gallery, its position is weakening. The upper floor of the New Acropolis Museum will showcase the surviving marbles, together with copies of those in the British Museum so as to show a complete picture of this matchless work of art. This column believes that they will return to their place of origin under pressure from the public and governments. One promising indication is that countries and museums around the world are starting to return works of art to the places from which they were removed due to wear, bombardment or illegal activities. An international conference on the return of cultural property starts Monday, March 17, at the New Acropolis Museum, organized by UNESCO and the Greek Culture Ministry. It is the first in a series of international gatherings organized by UNESCO and its member states to foster awareness and provide a forum for reflection and exchanges on the issue of the return of cultural property. Greek President Karolos Papoulias will attend the opening of the conference. Culture Minister Michalis Liapis and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Francoise Riviere will greet the participants. The event is coordinated by Vivi Vassilopoulou, the general manager of antiquities and cultural heritage at the Greek Culture Ministry. For two days, the conference will address the issue, with examples ranging from Italy's return of an obelisk to Ethiopia to the return by Edinburgh of Aboriginal remains to Australia. There's a strong feeling among journalists that Elena Korka, the head of the Culture Ministry's directorate of prehistoric and classical antiquities, will seize upon the opportunity presented by the conference to raise the issue of the Parthenon Marbles, because nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.

For more information on this conference in Athens 17-18 March 2008, please click here. 

The Athens International Conference brought together experts who have been involved in discussions leading to the return or reunification of cultural property.

The first day of the conference was devoted to the presentation of individual return cases by those involved. On the second day, discussions were held around four thematic workshops related to the debate on returns.

Museum directors, curators and archaeologists gathered in Athens on Monday for a two-day UN conference on stolen artefacts in the shadow of the Acropolis, whose famous frieze is now in the British Museum.

The meeting is being held in the new Acropolis Museum, which was built with an empty room ready and waiting for the return of the marble sculptures — which the Greek government considers to have been stolen by the 19th century British ambassador, Lord Elgin.

"We are here in the best possible place to house the (Elgin) marbles," Greek Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said as he opened the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) conference.

The British Museum has consistently refused to return the artefacts, which once sat upon the eastern facade of the Acropolis, claiming that such objects are "universal" and don't belong just to one country.

Greece argues that the universal value of an art object cannot define its moral and legal owner.

The conference will also examine legal cases and precedents for the restitution of art works, and the legal requirements for claiming works in an increasingly competitive art market.

A 1970 international law on antique theft signed by 115 countries cannot help countries claim back art objects that were stolen before then and under colonial rule.

UNESCO's deputy director-general for Culture, Françoise Riviere said the legal aspect of who owns stolen artefacts is age-old and almost endless.

Thefts of archaeological finds in war zones are also on the agenda.

"Illegal excavations are proliferating, particularly in areas like Iraq or Afghanistan," said Françoise Riviere, demanding urgent action against looting.

An international 2-day conference on the timely issue of "Return of Cultural Property to its Country of Origin" began at the New Acropolis Museum of Athens on Monday.

Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis welcomed delegates -- which include attorneys, museum curators, archaeologists, academics and art experts -- to the conference, organised by the Greek culture ministry in cooperation with UNESCO.

In opening comments and with the Parthenon atop the Acropolis only 400 metres away, Liapis emphasised that an "ideal momentum" has been created to search out for "clear-cut solutions" regarding the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens from the British Museum in London.

Afterwards, Liapis guided Greek President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on a tour of the new state-of-the-art museum.

The president of the General Conference of UNESCO, George Anastassopoulos and UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Culture, Francoise Riviere, also addressed the conference.

The conference participants will reflect upon and exchange experiences on the issue of the return of cultural property, examining several successful return cases, including: the Axum Obelisk from Italy to Ethiopia, the return of the Stone Birds of Great Zimbabwe from Germany to Zimbabwe, the return of human remains to the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal tribe of South Australia, the "Utimut" cooperation project for the return of cultural objects from Denmark to Greenland, the reunification of a Neo-Sumerian alabaster figure (cooperation project between the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of New York) and the case of the ceremonial mask of the Kwakwaka'wakw people of Vancouver Island between the British Museum and Canada.

Changes in museum policies and an increase in instances of cooperation between different countries for the repatriation of looted artifacts could pave the way for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, Culture Minister Michalis Liapis told an international conference in Athens yesterday.

"More and more museums are adopting tighter ethics codes and governments are promoting cooperation, so the ideal momentum is being created for clear solutions," Liapis told the UNESCO event at the New Acropolis Museum.

Museum officials and archaeologists gave several examples of repatriated artifacts, such as the Obelisk of Axum, returned to Ethiopia from Rome in 2005. Experts also remarked upon the increase of works being smuggled out of war zones.

Christiane Tytgat, former curator at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels and director of the Netherlands Institute in Athens, said the Parthenon Marbles, currently in the British Museum, should be sent back too."I support their return unreservedly... this is where they belong," Tytgat said.

ATHENS, Greece: Greece renewed its demand for the Parthenon Marbles on Monday at a gathering of world culture experts held at the foot of the Acropolis.

Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said Athens' long standing demand for the collection — also known as the Elgin Marbles — was gaining momentum.

"A new wind is blowing" regarding looted antiquities, Liapis told an international conference, organized by UNESCO, on the return of cultural goods to their countries of origin.

"This creates an ideal climate, a new momentum for us to seek means of communication with a view to achieve clear solutions on the matter," Liapis said.

The two-day event was held at a new Acropolis Museum, where Athens hopes to house the collection if it is returned by the British Museum in London.

The €129 million ($200 million) building designed by U.S.-based architect Bernard Tschumi is set to open in September.

"I hope (displayed artifacts) will include the Parthenon Sculptures, following cooperation with the British Museum," Liapis said.

Until then, plaster copies of the 5th century B.C. sculptures will be used.

The British Museum says it will only consider a short-term loan — not necessarily involving its entire Parthenon collection.

Greece has recently stepped up efforts to reclaim allegedly plundered antiquities from museums and collections abroad.

Lawyers, museum professionals, archaeologists, academics and cultural property experts will meet in Athens, Greece, 17-18 March for an international conference on the Return of Cultural Property to its Country of Origin, according to a UNESCO statement, made available to panapress Thursday.

The conference, organised by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with UNESCO, will be opened by the Greek Minister of Culture, Michalis Liapis, with Karolos Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic, the President of the General Conference of UNESCO, George Anastassopoulos, and UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Culture, Françoise Rivière, in attendance.

The participants will review their experiences on the issue of the return of cultural property, examine several successful returns, including the Axum Obelisk from Italy to Ethiopia, the return of the Stone Birds of Great Zimbabwe from Germany to Zimbabwe, the return of human remains to the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal tribe of South Australia, the "Utimut" cooperation project for the return of cultural objects from Denmark to Greenland, the reunification of a Neo-Sumerian alabaster figure (cooperation project between the Louvre Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of New York) and the case of the ceremonial mask of the Kwakwaka'wakw people of Vancouver Island between the British Museum and Canada.

The conference will also feature debates on Ethics and Law, Mediation and Cultural Diplomacy, Museums, Sites and Cultural Context and International Cooperation and Research.

Discussions will also take place on ways to strengthen the action of the Intergo vernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation.

Established by UNESCO in 1978, the Intergovernmental Committee provides a framew ork for discussion and negotiation on the return or restitution of cultural property.

The committee, composed of 22 elected member states, remains strictly advisory, establishing forums for debate and offering non-legally binding recommendations.

Proceedings from this meeting will be published and made available for the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, scheduled for June 2009.

The return and restitution of cultural property will also be the theme of another meeting to be held in November this year in South Korea. Panapress.