Starting from the fact that the Parthenon monument is a part of the world's cultural heritage; starting from the right of every citizen of Greece to, according to the Universal declaration on human rights, enjoys the art work created on the territory of his state; keeping in mind that the member-countries of the United Nations agreed to cooperate with the United Nations in order to secure general respect and implementation of the human rights as well as keeping in mind that the preservation of the identity of all people and every nation creates basis for cooperation between states, people and nations, the Serbian Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures passes:

DECLARATION
ON THE REUNIFICATION OF THE PARTHENON SCULPTURES FROM
THE BRITISH MUSEUM IN LONDON TO GREECE

1. Without legal or any other basis, the Parthenon Sculptures were seized by force from the temple or other parts of the unique cultural heritage of monuments and taken to London where they are kept until this very day in the British Museum.

2. At the time of the seizure and transfer of the Parthenon Sculptures to London, Greece was under Turkish occupation whose authorities did not issue a permit to take these Sculptures out of the country.

3. This means that the Parthenon Sculptures are illegally exhibited in the country they do not belong to and which does not have any right to keep them.

4. During their forced seizure, the Parthenon sculptures were damaged and, later on, they suffered even greater damage by application of improper cleaning methods as confirmed by W. St. Clair, historian in the British Museum in London.

5. Forced seizure of the Parthenon Sculptures and their illegal transfer to Great Britain represents huge historic and civilization injustice that must be corrected.

6. Considering that the Parthenon monument  has significant, international cultural importance, we believe that every part of this monument must be returned to the place of its origins and be given to the citizens of Greece to look after them according to the Convention on the protection of the world cultural heritage since UNESCO proclaimed the Parthenon Sculptures part of the world heritage.

In reference to the above, we are appealing to the Government of  Great Britain to re-examine as soon as possible its position on passing decision on the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to the place of their origins especially after the completion of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens.