[MSN] Elgin Marbles Parliamentary Motion Hailed by New Zealand's Parliament

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Elgin Marbles Parliamentary Motion Hailed
Monday, 28 May 2007, 12:02 pm
Press Release: NZ Parthenon Marbles Committee  
27 May 2007
Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles Parliamentary Motion Hailed

"The motion passed last Thursday by members of New Zealand's Parliament,
which urges the British Government to return the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles
back to Greece, joins the growing number of countries and international
organisations also calling for their return" said Bruce Blades, Chairman of
the New Zealand Parthenon Marbles Committee.

"The Marble sculptures were sawn off and stripped from the Parthenon
building on the Acropolis in Athens by the then British Ambassador Lord
Elgin 200 years ago, at the time when Greece was under Turkish rule. This
action has been a matter of deep controversy ever since. Lord Elgin sold the
Marbles to the British Government which holds them in the British Museum.
Half are in Athens and half are in London. Countries throughout the world
are joining the call for the Marbles to be reunited so that the magnificence
of these sculptures can be truly appreciated in the place of their origin."

The text of the motion put forward reads:-

"That this House joins its voice to that of other countries throughout the
world and urges the British Government to support the return of the
Parthenon (Elgin) marbles to Greece, stressing the need for the collections
of marbles in different locations to be reunited so the world can see them
in their original context in relation to the Temple of Parthenon as an act
of respect to one of the most significant monuments of western heritage."

The motion was agreed to.

"As long as the Marbles remain in the British Museum, our New Zealand
Committee will continue to inform the public of the plunder carried out by
Lord Elgin when he desecrated the classical Parthenon building" said Mr
Blades.

  http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0705/S00295.htm

ENDS

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