The 11th General Assembly of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association took place in the Athens at the end of July 2017. The Australian Hellenic diaspora was proudly represented by a number of current and past parliamentarians, including Federal MPs Maria Vamvakinou and Steve Georganas, Senator Peter Georgiou, State Victorian Ministers Jenny Mikakos and Philip Dalidakis, as well as Eleni Petinos (NSW) and Peter Katsambanis (WA).
Among the many issues that were canvassed was the vexed and long-standing question of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum following is the article prepared by Ms Elly Symons and Mr George Vardas who represent the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association.
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Australian-Greeks support the return of the Parthenon Sculptures
at the 11th General Assembly of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association
that took place in the Hellenic Parliament
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An official observer at the conference, Ms Elly Symons – who is also Co-Vice President of the Australian Committee for the Return of the Parthenon Sculptures – was invited to address the delegates on the status of the campaign for the return of the Sculptures.
In her speech, Ms Symons reminded the audience of the passion for the marbles that resides within the diaspora. The Parthenon is an integral part of our shared European and World cultural heritage and despite Greece’s requests for the reunification of all its sculptures in the Acropolis Museum, the United Kingdom simply refuses to even discuss their return, having refused to participate in a proposed UNESCO-facilitated mediation in 2015.
The Greek Government, having rejected legal advice regarding possible litigation for the marbles through the international courts, continues to favour a ‘soft power’ approach through cultural diplomacy but, as Ms Symons noted, many advocates increasingly believe that the British will never willingly return the Parthenon Marbles.
But now, the prospect of Brexit potentially affords Greece a unique opportunity to use its cultural leverage in the negotiations that have begun following the UK’s controversial decision to leave the European Union.
Australian-Greeks support the return of the Parthenon Sculptures at the 11th General Assembly of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association in Athens Source: Supplied
As Elly explained, Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU provides that where a Member State decides to withdraw, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that state, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union.
In her notification to the EU, the British Prime Minister Theresa May stressed that the UK remained committed partners in protecting shared European values. In response, the EU specified that during negotiations the Union will act as one, be constructive throughout and strive to find agreement, abiding by the principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and acknowledging that “flexible and imaginative solutions” will be required.
In this way, Brexit offers Greece a unique opportunity to impress upon its European partners that as part of a structured Brexit negotiation one particular “imaginative solution” that should be placed on the diplomatic table is the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to European soil.
As the eminent jurist Geoffrey Robertson QC has pointed out, one of the consequences of Brexit will be that the UK will no longer be bound by Article 3 of the Treaty which provides that each member country must ensure that Europe’s cultural heritage is safeguarded. Article 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU - the so-called ‘article on culture’ - requires the EU to encourage cooperation between the Member States and support actions to improve knowledge and disseminate the culture and history of the European peoples and safeguard the cultural heritage of European significance. Robertson has argued that Greece would have good reason to persuade its fellow member states to include the restitution of the Parthenon sculptures in their list of negotiation demands in exchange for satisfying one of the UK’s likely counter demands.
Parthenon statues at the British Museum Source: Wikipedia
According to Elly Symons, such a strategy will require a combination of strong political will and diplomatic flair on the part of the Greek Government.
The Council of the EU has acknowledged that cultural heritage is a major asset for Europe and an important component of the European project. As Federica Mogherini, Vice President of the European Commission has stated:
“We are very well aware that Europe’s soft power lies on our cultural foundations. We can use culture as a way of creating dialogue and preventing conflict.”
It is also significant that 2018 has been officially designated as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. It offers an excellent opportunity to highlight the role of Europe's cultural heritage in fostering a shared sense of history and identity. And Greece and the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures should be at the centre of that conversation. As culture is clearly a significant element in the European Union narrative and the Parthenon Sculptures - conceived and created during the Age of Classical Greece at the birthplace of democracy - are the par excellence of Europe’s cultural and architectural heritage, Greece should be seriously considering pursuing a Brexit-nuanced strategy of cultural diplomacy across Europe to arrive at a just solution to this long-running cultural property dispute.
Elly Symons concluded her address by pointing out that the Parthenon Sculptures are the embodiment of the cultural heritage of Europe and a means to understand our past. Their return to Greece will not only bear testimony to the enduring character of the European Union and the social conscience of the United Kingdom to do the right thing, but will generate countless social and economic benefits for Greece in terms of growth and jobs, when after more than 200 years the sculptures of the Parthenon are finally and famously reunited in Athens.