Return Of Parthenon Sculptures To Greece

EDM number 17 in 2002-03, proposed by Andrew Dismore on 13/11/2002.

That this House welcomes the recent visit to the United Kingdom of Evangelos Venizelos, Culture Minister of Greece; notes the Greek Government's proposals for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to the Acropolis, including retention of ownership by the British Museum, exhibition of the sculptures in Athens on behalf of both Greece and the United Kingdom in partnership, and the reciprocal loan of major exhibitions of Greek art and artefacts to the British Museum, exhibitions which would otherwise never be seen in the United Kingdom; notes the commencement of the construction of the new Acropolis museum, with a completion date of 2004, including gallery space specially designed to show the reunited Parthenon sculptures presently held in London and Athens in their original context; and calls on the Government to enter into meaningful discussions with the Greek Government for the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece in time for the Athens Olympic Games of 2004.

This motion has been signed by a total of 52 MPs.