The Marianna Vardinoyannis Foundation, in cooperation with the Melina Mercouri Foundation, on Thursday holds an international meeting “The Parthenon, the integrity of a monument-symbol, the role of citizens, an international campaign” at the Acropolis Museum.
Minister of Culture and Sports Konstantinos Tasoulas and Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni attend the meeting as well as Marianna Vardinoyannis and the Greek singer Sakis Rouvas.
“The purpose of this international meeting is to shed light on a big issue of culture and morality, the integrity of a monument-symbol, the Parthenon, the reunification of its Marbles, which remain dismembered although they constitute an integral part of a whole, ” UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis said in her welcome speech in an event to mark the launch of the new international campaign entitled “Return (the marbles), Restore (Parthenon), Restart (history)”.
The campaign seeks the return of parts of the Parthenon Sculptures which are currently in the British Museum to Greece and the reunification and integrity of Parthenon Sculptures.
“You have started this campaign for a monument, which is certain it will lead to vindication in the end. They say there isn’t a more powerful weapon than an idea which has matured. And you are preparing this idea so that it matures. And when this happens, you will see that things will happen in a smooth way,” Minister of Culture Constantinos Tassoulas said.
Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni referred to the “monument-symbol, not only of Greece’s classical culture and the whole of the western world. This is the symbol we are asking to be reunited and act as a monument of unification of our fragmented world.”