The past couple of weeks have brought several positive developments for the protection of Greek cultural heritage at the national and international levels. First, the US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, and the Greek Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding renewing protections for Greek cultural heritage imported into the US. This occasion marks the 10th anniversary of the original bilateral agreement between the US and Greece dedicated to combatting the illicit traffic of archaeological, ethnological, and ecclesiastical material, as well as the 200th anniversary of Greek independence. Ambassador Pyatt stated that by renewing the agreement, the US is maintaining its firm commitment to protecting these treasures from looting and trafficking and following the principles established in the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. These two nations are cooperating in attempts to protect and preserve humankind’s cultural heritage against a number of threats, including illicit trafficking.

Second, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) recently urged the British Museum to return the Parthenon Marbles. The Marbles’ worth is priceless, as they are an international treasure of great cultural and historical significance to the Greek people and all of humankind. The UNESCO Committee called on the United Kingdom to review its ongoing position (The British Museum has refused to entertain Greece’s repatriation demands and the museum has also rejected the possibility of a loan to Greece, although the museum has loaned the marbles in the past). The UNESCO Committee also recommended that the British Museum enter into discussions with Greece as the latter has “a valid and legal claim to demand the return of the sculptures to the place of their birth.”

The controversy over the marbles has been at a standstill for decades. Greece has opted for diplomacy rather than litigation in asserting its claim to the marbles, and the British Museum maintains that the United Kingdom obtained them legally. It remains to be seen whether UNESCO’s decision will be taken into consideration by the United Kingdom, but it is an encouraging step towards highlighting the importance of returning significant cultural heritage items to their countries of origin.

Amineddoleh & Associates LLC is proud to represent the Cultural Ministry of Greece in cultural heritage matters in the US, and we look forward to continued collaboration in order to effectively protect and preserve Greece’s rich cultural heritage, for both present and future generations. We remain dedicated to fighting the illicit traffic of antiquities and returning looted objects to their rightful owners.