IS ICOM BECOMING AN INSTRUMENT OF THE SO-CALLED UNIVERSAL MUSEUMS? COMMENTS ON STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF ICOM THAT PARTHENON/ELGIN MARBLES SHOULD STAY IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Those who have been following discussions on questions of restitution and preservation of cultural objects know the high esteem in which the International Council of Museums (ICOM) is held by many. (1) Most of us believe that this non-governmental organization has rendered extremely useful service to the world of museums by its activities and standard-setting instruments such as the Code of Ethics for Museums and the ICOM Red List. (2).The organization has demonstrated its will to maintain a fair balance between the interests of the museums in countries where looted artefacts are found and those countries that strive for the restitution of their national heritage. This delicate balance in an area of political, economic, cultural and psychological complexities runs the risk of being upset if the recent statement attributed to Julien Anfruns, Director-General of ICOM, is an indication of thinking in the organization.

A statement on the Parthenon Marbles attributed to the Director-General of ICOM, appears to put in great danger all the efforts achieved so far by ICOM in maintaining equality and fairness towards its members from different countries. According to the Spanish journal, La Nueva España, Julien Anfruns declared that the Parthenon/Elgin Marbles should stay in London:

“Julien Anfruns, director general of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), explained that “these pieces still give rise to misunderstandings”, and in this regard that, "had the transfer never happened who knows if we would be able to see these pieces today at all."

“Greece formed part of the Ottoman Empire, it was not an independent country, there did not exist a consciousness that art encompassed the roots of a nation.”Anfruns concluded “that at least one thing is sure: Elgin's bequest can be seen in the British Museum today”. (3) Anfruns has conveniently forgotten the damage done to the Parthenon Marbles by the use of wrong cleaning chemicals. A disaster which even the British Museum has admitted. (4)

Regarding the possibility of returning cultural objects to their countries of origin, the Director-General of ICOM, giving as examples of cultural objects found outside their countries of origin, the Venus de Milo or Samothrace's Winged Victory, now in the Louvre, concluded that the idea was absurd. He questioned if the idea of return was “to bring together all the Velasquez to Spain, to do the same thing with all the heritage of Egypt?”

Anfruns is reported as saying that: “Tony Blair's government promoted a law according to which the Elgin pieces cannot leave the United Kingdom”.

Some of these statements are, to put it very mildly, irresponsible. Should a Director-General of ICOM even express publicly his own views on such a controversial question as the legality and legitimacy of the Parthenon/Elgin Marbles in the British Museum, independently of the views of his organization?

When Anfruns was appointed, the Press Release stated, inter alia: “Along with his managerial and administrative duties at the International Council of Museums, Julian Anfruns will act as its operational and intellectual head through four fundamental missions:

o To act as the spokesperson of ICOM, and to promote the Organisation's position as a reference for members of the museum community.

o To strengthen the network of museum professionals with the aim of building up the reputation, scope and visibility of ICOM within the museum community.

o To seek financial support from private sponsors and public partners.

o To strengthen the efficiency of ICOM in order to consolidate and improve all services and programmes carried out by the Organisation.”(5)

Can the Director-General of ICOM, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) maintaining formal relations with UNESCO and having a consultative status with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), totally ignore the positions of the United Nations, UNESCO and the international community as expressed in several resolutions and at the recent Athens Conference on restitution of cultural items to their countries of origin? (6)

How far are the views of Anfruns compatible with Article 4.5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO

this provides that:
“Representatives of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Organization for Museums, Monuments and Sites of Africa (OMMSA) shall also take part in meetings of the Committee, in an advisory capacity.” (7)

Can ICOM provide unbiased advice to the Committee when its Director-General has publicly taken position in favour of the so-called universal museum? It is well-known that the dispute between Greece and Great Britain on the Parthenon Marbles has been for a long time before the Intergovernmental Committee which seeks ways and means of facilitating bilateral negotiations for the restitution or return of cultural property.

How far are the views of Anfruns compatible with the following ICOM declaration issued in connection with recent Athens Conference?

”There is a need to retrieve consideration of the historical movement since the eighteenth century of an articulation of 'universal' values; to trace the important trajectories in political and social philosophy arising from the concept of the dignity of all humankind. Seen in this light, the whole scenography of cultural heritage disputes and property claims brought to the door of museums may be re-cast in different terms from those staked out by the self-styled 'universal museum'. The claims of those seeking to regain access, control or possession of their cultural heritage may no longer be projected as irritant or aberrant voices speaking from far outside the discourse of universal values, but rather as the extension and fulfilment of these values in today's world.” (8)

Is the Director-General of ICOM at all conscious of the fact that the Greeks are also members of ICOM and as such should be treated equally in a dispute with the British which has been placed before the United Nations, UNESCO and ICOM? Can ICOM play any useful role when its Director-General declares publicly that he is in favour of one party? Is this compatible with his status as such and in accordance with the statutes of his organization? What role did the ICOM Secretariat, which consists of fairly experienced officials, play in this matter? Could they not restrain their D-G from making such absurd statements which only betray partiality and ignorance in the matter? It is possible that the Director-General did not consult either his Secretariat or the Executive Council of ICOM with regard to his unfortunate statement, even though as the Chief Executive Officer he is responsible to the Council.

However, if the statement of Anfruns is indicative of current thinking in the higher circles of ICOM, its wider implications for restitution cases should be carefully examined. Many institutions and persons will feel that they can no longer rely on the impartiality of ICOM since the current Director-General seems to espouse the discredited and self-serving arguments of museum directors such as Montebello (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), Cuno (Art Institute of Chicago) and MacGregor (British Museum, London) that the so-called “universal museums” have a right and duty to retain looted artefacts or artefacts acquired under dubious circumstances. Continued    Source: Kwame Opoku, Dr.

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