The Minister of Greek Culture unsettles archaeologists

Athens (Greece)

From our correspondent

Outcry in Greece after the vote on the latest law by the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, Monday, February 13. Adopted by only the conservative majority, it facilitates the long-term loan of antiques abroad. According to the Association of Greek Archaeologists, which violently opposes it, the ministry has proceeded in stages. He first modified the boards of directors of the five largest museums in the country, led until now by archaeologists, to replace them with managers appointed by the Ministry of Culture. These new boards were authorized to establish annexes of Greek museums abroad. “It was the only way for the minister to circumvent Greek law which prohibits any loan of artifacts abroad for more than five years, criticizes Despoina Koutsouba, archaeologist specializing in underwater research. Our most beautiful pieces will go abroad for decades. The British has already requested, according to the Financial Times, a Santorini fresco. Vassilis Bakalis, executive at the Ministry of Culture, is part of all the demonstrations against the new law. “We have supported the culture of this country in its darkest hours. During the crisis, with salary cuts, rooms closed for lack of guards, sites in danger for lack of means, and now that the worst is behind us, generations of Greeks will be robbed of their heritage. They will not be able to see these antiquities which will be abroad for several decades”, he is indignant.

A few months ago, the Minister of Culture had tried, without success, to pass a law extending the duration of cultural loans abroad to one hundred years. An obsession linked to the eventual return to Greece of the Parthenon friezes held by the British Museum. London claims that these 75 meters of sculptures were “legally acquired” in 1802 by the British diplomat Lord Elgin, who sold them to the British Museum. For Athens, it is the looting, in a country then under Ottoman occupation, of a national treasure whose restitution it has demanded since the 19th century. A request supported by Unesco since 2014. The case has become an electoral issue, Greek opinion being very favorable to the return. However, early legislative elections are planned for the spring… Leaks organized in the pro-government press had revealed, in mid-December, that Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis was conducting secret discussions in London with the director of the British Museum, George Osborne. Object of the negotiations: the definitive return of the friezes in exchange for very long-term loans of unique pieces never left the country. British Culture Minister Michelle Donelan opposed it: such a decision would require changing the British law on the inalienability of works. However, this is not on the agenda. Greek law has already been amended accordingly. The Greek archaeologists have not said their last word: they intend to seize the Council of State to cancel it.

Source