Ioanna Niaoti for #NaMaste, a radio programme on Saturday 21 May 2022, reflects on the impasse of the continued division of the Parthenon sculptures.
Available on Hellenic Broadcasting, this Second Program can be heard on 103.7. This station celebrates 70 years of broadcasting this year.
Ioanna invited BCRPM to speak about the ongoing plight of the Parrthenon marbles on her programme. Key questions were:
- Since the last announcement from UNESCO there have been expectations, but the British government states that its attitude has not changed. There is also no date yet for the meeting between Greece's Culture Minister, Mendoni andLord Parkinson (DCMS), how do you see this development? Or is it not really a development because the British side anyway argues that the issue should be discussed with the British Museum.
- At the same time, the British Museum is not changing its position either, so the debate and the situation, remains exactly the same as it has been for the last decades ad centuries......
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The British Museum leaves open the option of a loan, which of course is not accept ed by the Greek side, we have heard proposals for 3d prints (but who will undertake to do these) what steps does the committee think can realistically be taken?
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Could a British government, which believed in the reunification of the sculptures, possibly encourage even "push" the BM in this direction? Because we see that in politics as well - there were British politicians who supported the argument when they were not in positions of power, but also former directors of the British Museum.
BCRPM replied that:
- It was shocking to see the lack of respect shown for UNESCO's ICPRCP, its process, decisions and recommendations. The proposed meeting between Minister Mendoni and Lord Parkinson no sooner had it been proposed then it was cancelled as the UK had already stated bot h the BM's position and the UK Government support: that the Parthenon Marbles are legally owned and cannot be deaccessed.The reality is simply that the UK, both in its museum and government, is not prepared to reunite the surviving Parthenon Marbles. The BM insists that the story told in London is enjoyed by millions of visitors and provides an insight into how ancient Greece influenced other civilisations, whereas in Athens they continue to tell the story of ancient Athens. Two stories, one peerless collection.
- It tragically remains the same and looks set to continue to do so. This request will never go away and British stubborness will not stop the tide already turning. More and more museums are ensuring that their exhibits can relate to their visitors and their expectations. Telling the story does matter. The story told in Room 18 is as old as the start of the 19th century and is never going to be sufficiently engaging to 21st century museum goers. This isn't about erasing history but recounting it truthfully and having sufficient respect for the Parthenon, which stands. It is about allowing a new chapter for the surviving sculptures, to be rereunited in the Acropolis Museum.
- A loan is okay so long as it can be in perpetuity, look at what the Museum in Palermo has managed to achieve with the Fagan fragment. Professor Stampolidis was so excited to make this announcement at UNESCO's ICPRCP 23rd session in Paris this week.And after all the BM refers to these marbles as the Parthenon sculptures, so surely they continue to belong to the Parthenon. The 3D reproductions is not something that BCRPM can fund as we have no funding but it is an option and pursued by those that have access to the funds needed.
- Tragically the British government at the moment will never have the vision to embrace a magnanimous gesture and yes you are right that there are those such as Ed Vaizey that when they were in government could not support this issue but now, no longer part of the DCMS, Lord Vaizey has said that on balance he supports the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. We have hope and continue to campaign: where there is a will, there is always a way.
To listen to the interview in Greek, kindly follow the link (the segment starts at 15:20 minutes ino the programme):
https://webradio.ert.gr/deytero-programma/namaste-deftero-savvato-21-ma%ce%90ou-2022/
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