Culture Minister Lina Mendoni received, in a special ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest – in the presence of Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Innovation Anita Kiss-Hegyi – nine ancient vases that are being repatriated to Greece.

The return of the nine ancient vases constitutes a new, significant step in addressing a long-standing case of antiquities trafficking, highlighting Greece’s continuous and steady effort to protect and bring back its cultural assets to their place of origin. The antiquities, which had been stolen from the Archaeological Museum of Argos between 1970 and 1992, are returning to our country after a multi-year effort that began in 2008. Officials of the Ministry of Culture, through systematic and well-documented work, proved that the nine vases originate from an excavation in Argolis.

Lina Mendoni in front of the ancient vases

In her speech, Lina Mendoni stressed: “Today, the guardian of the Atreidae can light the beacon of Mycenae for the return of the vases to their homeland. Today, the receipt of the nine vases is a day of vindication for Greece and the Ministry of Culture, filling us with joy, emotion, pride and deep relief. Now, here in Budapest and at the Museum of Fine Arts, an issue that remained open for almost two decades is being closed. A cycle that began with the theft and illegal removal of antiquities from their natural environment is now closing with their return to where they truly belong, to Greece, to the land of Argolis. From 2008, when the Greek authorities were first informed by the Hungarian side about the presence of the vases at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, until today’s ceremony, we had to work with persistence, patience, scientific accuracy and diplomatic dedication. In every question, in every doubt, Greece stood unwavering in its principles, with scientific knowledge and evidence, with respect for international law and with the belief that cultural heritage is not a commodity.”

Referring to the special nature of the objects being returned, which will be displayed at the renovated Archaeological Museum of Argos, Lina Mendoni emphasized that “each object returning today to its place and to be exhibited in the museum is not simply an antiquity being repatriated. It is an element of the DNA of the people, a fragment of our national and collective identity. It is a piece of our history being restored. It is a victory of international law and cooperation between peoples. The return of these vases demonstrates Greece’s determination to defend its cultural heritage with the same persistence, patience, determination, principles and method for every single antiquity, each of which is unique. Only through coordinated international action can we effectively address the global scourge of illegal trafficking of cultural goods, because the crime of antiquities trafficking, against the cultural heritage of humanity, is directly linked to terrorism.”

The negotiations, which at times showed stagnation and great difficulties, were reactivated with increasing intensity over the past six years, also through diplomatic channels. They were successfully concluded with the agreement between the Greek Ministry of Culture, the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and the Museum of Fine Arts for the handover of the nine vases.

H. Lina Mendoni with Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Innovation Anita Kiss-Hegyi

The Minister Lina Mendoni noted that “the process of claiming thirteen additional antiquities, which appear to come from the same collection, remains active. The protection of cultural heritage is not a field of confrontation. It is a field of cooperation. It is a shared responsibility of peoples to protect it and pass it on to future generations based on the principles of sustainable development. In a few months, at the end of June, the Ministry of Culture will complete the project of the full renovation of the Archaeological Museum of Argos, with its expansion and re-exhibition, and will deliver it to the citizens and visitors of Argolis. There, the nine vases will find their permanent place, with their story recorded, awaiting their ‘siblings’.”

Within the framework of the ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Greece and Hungary, which will strengthen the framework of cooperation between the two countries. As the Minister stressed: “Today opens new fields in scientific research, exchange of expertise and promotion of cultural exchanges, while at the same time ensuring the systematic continuation of our cooperation for the documentation of the origin of the remaining 13 vases that Greece claims from the Museum of Fine Arts. I would like to thank all those who contributed to today’s outcome: the officials of the Ministry of Culture, the staff of the Museum of Fine Arts for their cooperation, the scientists, the diplomats.”

On her part, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Innovation Anita Kiss-Hegyi stated: “The importance of Greek culture far exceeds its national boundaries, as it constitutes one of the cornerstones of European civilization. We Hungarians are connected to the Greek world through relations that extend over more than a thousand years – from scientific tradition and education to ecclesiastical and cultural ties. This shared heritage remains alive and continues to be enriched through modern cooperation. The return of cultural goods, therefore, is not merely the settlement of an issue of the past, but also a step toward the future. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding creates new possibilities for further joint research, for deepening cultural relations and for even closer cooperation between the institutions of the two countries in the field of showcasing, protecting and promoting cultural heritage.”

At the handover ceremony were present the Ambassador of Greece to Hungary Manolis Apostolakis, Bishop of Apamea Paisios, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Katerina Koika, Director of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods Vasiliki Papageorgiou, Director General of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest Laszlo Baan, Director of the Greek Institute of Hungary Nikos Fokas, President of the Greek self-government of Budapest Zoi Thomou and officials of the Ministry of Culture.