'Culture is not a zero-sum game' says Mendoni, urging synergies with Turkiye
The Forum was held under the auspices of the Directorate of Communications of the Republic of Turkiye, in cooperation with the Türkiye Research Foundation (TAV) and the Institute of Global Affairs (IGA), American College of Greece.
"The goal of the Forum is to look at Greek-Turkish relations through each other's eyes, so that we can understand each other, and ultimately give perspective to the sincere approach of our two countries," Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, who was a keynote speaker, underlined.
"Culture is a deeply political concept. What culture can certainly do is to create conditions, function as the basis, or even as a starting point, for osmosis and mutual understanding."
Mendoni emphasised that "today, the challenge is to forge a relationship of cultural cooperation in modern terms. To reintroduce ourselves. To propose culture as a value in itself, ideally detaching it from any interests. We desire synergies both at the bilateral level and in international forums, respecting international law and charting new paths that will follow the priorities and challenges of modern times. Culture is not a zero-sum game. It is a field of cooperation that benefits both parties involved."
The minister also referred to the "support that Turkiye provides to our country, our national request for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. This support was expressed at the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Promotion of the Return of Cultural Property to the Countries of Origin, which was held in Paris last May. We discussed the issue at length with Culture Minister Mehmet Ersoy and he enthusiastically supported the Greek request. I am particularly pleased that Zeynep Boz, the head of the Department for Combating Smuggling, Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums, is with us here today, so that I can thank her publicly for her intervention, which came to confirm that Lord Elgin had not received any permission from the Ottoman authorities to remove the Marbles from the monument."
On her part, Boz, who participated in the first panel moderated by Professor Constantinos Filis, underlined that Turkiye always supports Greece in its demand for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. She refuted the British Museum’s claim that Britain legally purchased the Marbles based on a firman (an official legal document), adding that no such firman exists in Turkiye’s Ottoman-era records.
"We eagerly look forward to celebrating the return of the Marbles," Boz concluded.
Mendoni also expressed Greece's anxiety over the fate of the monuments of historical heritage, the Christian monuments, which are located in Turkiye. "I know very well that in Cappadocia - for example - a beautiful place with rising tourism, the Christian monuments are being properly restored and attract cultural tourism. However, we are deeply saddened and concerned by the conversion of the most emblematic, in Turkiye and worldwide, Byzantine monument of Hagia Sophia, into a mosque. The same happened with another masterpiece of Byzantine art and architecture, the Monastery of Chora. The increased traffic and use, which entails the conversion of these monuments into religious spaces and their change of use, poses significant risks for the valuable and unique decoration of the monuments. We have highlighted this danger and will continue to highlight it, as we are obliged to, both bilaterally and within the framework of international organisations."
On his part, the director of the Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikos Stampolidis, stressed that everyone must understand that Lord Elgin stole the Sculptures for personal reasons without any legitimacy. "This is an issue that concerns all of humanity and it has to do with the reunification of the sculptures and not their return, because they have been violently detached from the ancient temple. It is a global monument of unique beauty and symbol of democracy," he stressed.
During the second panel, Greek and Turkish representatives of the sports sector described their experience working in both countries, adding that "there is more that unites us than divides us."
AMNA
