Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has visited the Agora site following the return of artefacts there. In his speech he made clear the obvious similarities between the many minor restitution cases that have been successful & the ongoing one of the Elgin Marbles.

From:
Athens News Agency

05/08/2007
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis visits Ancient Agora in Athens

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis visited the Ancient Agora in Athens during the weekend, accompanied by Culture Minister George Voulgarakis and culture ministry Secretary General Christos Zachopoulos.

Speaking after his visit, Karamanlis said that antiquities dating back to the 5th century, and related to the wider region of the Acropolis, have been returned to Greece a few weeks ago and are on display in the Attalos Arcade.

“Day after day, the serious and methodical effort aimed at claiming and repatriating elements of our cultural heritage, that are in foreign museums or in private colllections, is producing and will continue to produce tangible results,” the prime minister said.

“And, of course, the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures remains the great goal. I am confident that the new Acropolis Museum, work for whose completion is now going on with a speedy pace, will add new and very strong arguments to this effort,” Karamanlis added.

The premier is due to meet on Monday with Russian Federation First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov and Cyprus House of Representatives Speaker Demetris Christofias.