They were speaking during a press conference given by 17 members of committees representing 15 countries, who are currently in Athens for the inauguration of the New Acropolis Museum tomorrow.

 

The chairman of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures David Hill also announced the start of efforts to establish a Parthenon Day every year in mid-June and the launch of a major campaign for their return based on the slogan "Why not?"

 

Among those backing the bid for the return of the 2,500 year-old marbles are former Australian Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser.

 

More than 100 marble statues and sculptured fragments were stripped from the temple 200 years ago by the then British Ambassador Lord Elgin.

 

For decades, those items, also known as the Elgin Marbles, have been housed in the British Museum.

 

A campaign to have them returned before the 2004 Olympics in Athens failed.

 

Whitlam said: "There are few cultural objects that have the same significance and meaning as these magnificent sculptures from the high point of the classic age of Greece.

 

"The Parthenon sculptures are unarguably among the world's most important surviving art works.

 

"The new Acropolis Museum gives the British Museum the opportunity of righting one of history's great wrongs.

 

"There is no longer any justification for keeping the collection in the Duveen Gallery at the back of the British Museum now that the sculptures can be reunited and exhibited with the other surviving statues of the Acropolis."

 

The movement intends to conduct opinion polls and collect signatures in favour of the marbles return.

 

Hill was also dismissive about an offer from the British Museum to loan the sculptures to Greece for three months.

 

He said: "The Marbles are like our children; it is though they were kidnapped and returned for three months."

 

The members of the national committee for the return of the Parthenon sculptures that are in Athens for the inauguration of the New Acropolis Museum represent the committees of Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, the United States, Serbia, Spain and Sweden.