(Moderator's comment: the standpoint these museum directors take towards the return of the Parthenon marbles is very much against the ICOM code of ethics, besides it is extremely undemocratic. One must realize that in Elgin's time already the majority of the English were opposed to the arrival of these marbles in England. Recent polls show that the majority of the English is in favour of returning the marbles. The director's declaration: "The universal admiration for ancient civilisations would not be so deeply established today were it not for the influence exercised by the artefacts of these cultures, widely available to an international public in major museums" is outright cultural colonialism. The countries of origin never had a chance to agree with the removal of their cultural property to Europe or the USA. The 'appreciation' of ancient (and far away) civilisations still is 'exercised' in a continuous and growing illicit trade in artifacts. There even are recent examples of illicit traffic in which museums participate. The 363 pieces of gold that the Metropolitan had to return to Turkey were outright stolen from that country, and the curators and director of the Metropolitan were aware of this (read Making the Mummies Dance by former Met director Thomas Hoving). The MIHO Museum still is involved in a case about looted art. The louvre recently was involved in a case about the illicit possession of NOK statues from Nigeria. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, director Ronald de Leeuw tonight declared that in the time the Parthenon Marbles were taken to England the state of Greece did not even exist. This is outright nonsense: in those days Greece was occupied by Turkey. The Parthenon Marbles were made at a time the state of The Netherlands nor the state of England did exist in it's present legal structure. According to De Leeuw the presence of these Marbles stimulated the appreciation for Greek art. Whether this be true or not: the country of origin never had a say in the transportation of these marbles to London. In legal terms this is theft.)
New York's Metropolitan Museum signed up to the statement
Some of the world's leading museums have joined forces to declare that they will not hand back ancient artefacts to their countries of origin. Directors of 18 institutions, from St Petersburg to New York, signed a declaration saying their collections act as "universal museums" for the good of the world.
People have only been able to fully appreciate ancient civilisations because their institutions have provided access to archaeological, artistic and ethnic objects, they say.
The statement follows increased calls for the return of artefacts that were removed decades or centuries ago, such as the controversial Elgin Marbles, which are in the British Museum.
A similar row has simmered over the Benin Bronzes that are kept in London and Berlin, while Turkey has been pushing for the return of the Pergamon Altar, also currently on show in Berlin.
In 1993, the Metropolitan Museum of Art reluctantly handed over 363 pieces of gold, silver, precious stones, paintings and sculptures to Turkey after a court case.
The directors' declaration said: "The universal admiration for ancient civilisations would not be so deeply established today were it not for the influence exercised by the artefacts of these cultures, widely available to an international public in major museums."
It said Greek culture would not have become so lauded if museums had not put statues on show.
'Not comparable'
"The collections of public museums throughout the world marked the significance of Greek sculpture for mankind as a whole and its enduring value for the contemporary world."
The acquisition of objects in past eras cannot be treated the same as illegal trade in antiquities today, the directors said.
"The objects and monumental works that were installed decades and even centuries ago in museums throughout Europe and America were acquired under conditions that are not comparable with current ones," the statement said.
Parthenon row
The statement was discussed at an informal meeting of directors earlier in 2002, and the heads of institutions including the Louvre in Paris, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York signed up.
The British Museum has not signed up to the declaration, but says it fully supports it.
Over recent years, it has faced growing calls to hand back the Elgin Marbles, sculptures taken from the Parthenon in Athens in the 19th century.
But the British Museum has said it is the "best possible place for them".
"They must remain here if the museum is to continue to achieve its aim, which is to show the world to the world," director Neil McGregor said recently.
Museums signed up to the declaration:
The Art Institute of Chicago
Bavarian State Museum, Munich (Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek)
State Museums, Berlin
Cleveland Museum of Art
J Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Louvre Museum, Paris
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Prado Museum, Madrid
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York