Australia Prime Minister asked for support in recovering Elgin Marbles
Posted at 12:56 pm	in Elgin Marbles
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has asked John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister to support the return of the Parthenon Marbles, after seeing his success in securing the return of Aboriginal remains.
Howard asked to recover lost marbles
By Rob Taylor
GREEK Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis today asked Australia to pressure Britain to hand over the Elgin Marbles after Canberra successfully lobbied for the return from London of ancient aboriginal remains.
The Elgin Marbles, known in Greece as the Parthenon Marbles, are a series of friezes and sculptures removed from the Acropolis above Athens by British diplomat Lord Elgin some 200 years ago and are now housed in the British Museum.
Britain has refused to return the marbles, claiming they are best preserved in London where they are a major attraction.
"It's a matter of reunification of a very important monument of global dimension," Mr Karamanlis told reporters after talks in Canberra with Prime Minister John Howard during an official five-day visit.
"We will not spare any effort to communicate with all our friends in government, but also all the people, to join the voices which will lead to a solution satisfactory to the cultural heritage of the Parthenon."
Mr Howard said the marbles, which Greece says Britain has a moral obligation to return, were a matter for the two countries to resolve. But he signalled he supported their return.
"I have on a number of occasions raised the issue in the discussions I have had with the British prime minister, stretching back for some years," Mr Howard said.
Australia this month secured the return of Aboriginal remains which had been held in a British museum for more than 100 years.
This story is from our news.com.au network Source: Reuters
Australian Prime Minister supports Greek calls for return of Parthenon Marbles : May 24, 2007
Official Australian support for the return of Elgin Marbles : May 25, 2007
New South Wales Premier expresses support for the return of the Elgin Marbles : May 23, 2007
UCL to return all Aboriginal remains in their collection : January 30, 2007
Australian government to fund Aboriginal remains case : February 17, 2007
West Australia's proposal for Elgin Marbles repatriation : June 23, 2008
More on the return of Tasmanian indigenous remains from Britain : March 29, 2006
Greek Prime Minister draw parallels between Agora artefact return & Parthenon Marbles : May 8, 2007