Oly: Greece urges British Olympic gesture on Elgin Marbles

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2004
Oly: Greece urges British Olympic gesture on Elgin Marbles

ATHENS, Aug 11 Reuters - Greece has called on Britain to use the occasion of the Athens
Olympics to promise to return the Elgin Marbles.

"The Olympics are starting now and we would very much like a commitment for their return,"

said Culture Ministry official Elena Korka.

In London, no British officials were available for comment, but Britain's line has
always been it has no plans to hand back the 5th century BC masterpieces that were taken
from the Parthenon temple by Thomas Bruce, the Earl of Elgin, in 1803.

The British Museum, which holds the sculptures, says there is no sense in returning
them as more people can see them where they are.

The marbles have been a burning issue between Britain and Greece since the 1980s when
actress turned culture minister Melina Mercouri launched a high-profile drive for their
return.

Greece had hoped a museum it planned to build at the foot of the Acropolis in time
for the August 13-29 Games would put pressure on the British Museum to send the marbles
back.

Culture ministers had said throngs of Olympic tourists visiting the museum and noticing
empty spots awaiting the sculptures would force Britain to give back the artefacts.

But the project was dogged by delays, mainly due to lawsuits by wealthy neighbours
blocking construction, and Greece abandoned hope that it would be ready for the Games.

The Supreme Court cleared the way two weeks ago for building to begin and the project's
head said the museum would be ready in two-and-a-half years.

After many years of wrangling with London over the sculptures, Greece has taken a softer
approach, proposing a joint exhibition in the new museum and to lend other Greek art to
Britain in exchange.

Reuter sp

KEYWORD: OLY MARBLES

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.