Parthenon sculptures have to be returned to Greece, noted Professor Dusan Sidjanski, the president of the Swiss Committee for the Return of Parthenon Marbles, during an event at the University of Zurich entitled “Europe and the Parthenon Marbles-Common Cause”.

During his speech, Professor Sidjanski referred to the Swiss Committee’ opposition to the legal claim of the return of the Parthenon sculptures, stressing that it is a European issue which must be resolved through dialogue at the European institutions’ level as well as through informing the public, especially in Britain.

He underlined that the demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles is a unique case, which concerns the integrity of a symbolic monument which has been ravaged.

A similar event took place at the University of Geneva. The speakers referred to the peculiarity of the request for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, to the ways of resolving cultural differences, while they generally supported the proposal of the Swiss Committee for finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue as well as to the disadvantages of legal resolution of cultural differences.

Scientists and archaeologists as well as Greek ambassador Charalambos Manessis attended the event at Zurich University. The event at Geneva University was attended by scientists, students and members of Greek communities as well as consul general Angelos Ipsilantis.