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How far the interventions could go, what the priorities in the process of restoration should be, and new techniques were the main topics of the fourth international meeting on the restoration of the monuments of the Acropolis, which was held in Athens. The symposium presented the work completed ​​in the period 2000 - 2010 as well as the activities which are in the process of implementation.

The meeting, which took place in the amphitheatre of the Acropolis Museum, discussed the issue of returning the sculptures of the Parthenon from the British Museum to Athens. They had been taken away from the monument and moved to Britain in 1806 on the orders of British diplomat Lord Elgin, who had sold them to the British Museum for £ 35,000.

"The efforts that we are putting into their return do not stem from a need to stimulate our national selfishness. This is an issue of global importance because it is connected with the restoration of the integrity of a grand monument that is universal for all mankind," states Greek Minister of Culture Panos Panagiotopoulous.

The meeting was attended by representatives of commissions from Cyprus, Germany, Sweden, the UK, Switzerland and Australia. During their visit to the Acropolis they were informed of the restoration works carried out at the archaeological site and then subsequently met with the Minister of Culture and with members of the advisory committee on the Greek marble sculptures of the Parthenon, and with Director of the Acropolis Museum Dimitris Pandermalis.

Panos Panagiotopoulous expressed his gratitude to the supporters of the cause, stating that the return of the sculptures to Athens is a significant issue for many people, regardless of their nationality. After presenting the efforts of the initiator of the campaign, Melina Mercouri, and of the Greek advisory committee in this regard, the Minister informed the participants about the results of his meeting with the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, in Paris this July.

He described as particularly important the act of sending an official letter from the international organization to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Culture of the United Kingdom, William Hague and Mary Miller, and to the Director of the British Museum, Robert Neil MacGregor, officially notifying them that Greece has requested mediation by UNESCO to resolve the dispute about the return of the sculptures.

According to Panagiotopoulous, if Great Britain agrees to participate in this process, it will be the first one that UNESCO will use to resolve a cultural conflict between the two countries. According to him, such a development is particularly important in view of the upcoming intergovernmental meeting of UNESCO which is to be held in Paris in November.

The chairman of the international committee which lobbied for the return of the sculptures, David Hill, expressed his support for the initiative, stressing the role that the international cultural organization has undertaken. "All are standing behind every strategic decision which the Greek government is taking to achieve the aim to which we are dedicated".

Similar was the reaction of the chairmen and members of the commissions from different countries. "The presence of international commissions expresses the international support for, and solidarity with, Greece’s request to restore the overall appearance of the Parthenon," said chairman of the Greek advisory committee Christoforos Argiropoulous, adding, "This coalition is a message for European integration and solidarity between peoples. This is because the Parthenon embodies the sovereignty of the word, the principle of democracy and the cult to beauty, which are values ​​developed in Athenian democracy."