“The unity of a unique monument: The Parthenon”
PARIS, APRIL 2003
The exhibition entitled: “The Unity of a Unique Monument: the Parthenon” was held with the initiative of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, in Paris. It was an event of great cultural and national importance since it was the first time that such an important international organization, like UNESCO, highlighted this important issue for Greeks and the whole modern civilization, which is the unification of the Parthenon sculptures and the cultural importance of the Parthenon as a whole.
The exhibition was organised by the “Melina Merkouri” Foundation and the Foundation for the Child and the Family in cooperation with UNESCO and with the support of the Greek Ministry of Culture, and included a series of photos of the Parthenon sculptures, which today are divided between the Acropolis Museum and the British National Museum, as they will look after their unification in the Acropolis Museum.
During the inauguration ceremony that took place on Friday, 4rth of April 2003, the UNESCO Director-General, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, stressed: “I deeply appreciate the initiative, which was undertaken by Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis to organize this exhibition. I am fully aware of her enthusiasm and dedication in art, in general. I am very pleased that UNESCO hosted this exhibition on the unification of the Parthenon sculptures and I want to point out that UNESCO is ready to help finding creative solutions in order to solve the differences between Greece and Great Britain, to the benefit of this great cultural heritage of humankind, the Parthenon”. Moreover, Mr. Matsuura referred to his visit in Acropolis, two years ago, following an invitation by Mrs. Vardinoyannis and reiterated the commitment he took then, to seek a solution on the issue of the Parthenon sculptures.
The President of the “Melina Merkouri” Foundation, Mr. Jules Dassin spoke immediately after, as well as the Greek permanent representative in UNESCO, Amb. Vassilis Vassilikos, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and the Goodwill Ambassador, Mr. Jean Michel Jarre, who was among the first ones who signed the appeal for the return of the Parthenon sculptures, which was drawn up in the summer 2000 on the initiative of Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Mr. Jules Dassin.
During the opening ceremony, Mrs. Vardinoyannis stressed in her speech: “In an era where violence in every form prevails all over the world, moderation and total harmony become ever more the ultimate values of civilization, as the ideal attitude of life towards a peace culture. The Parthenon constitutes precisely the expression of the moderation and total harmony. The symbol of democracy and freedom. That is why I feel that through this exhibition on the Parthenon marbles and especially, through UNESCO, whose symbol is rightly the Parthenon and the its values, we have the unique opportunity to send to the whole world a message which is ancient and modern at the same time: respect among the peoples. This is the only message which can lead to a world of moderation and balance, a world of world harmony and peace”.
When Mr. Jules Dassin took the floor, he stressed full of emotion: “I would like to thank for this exhibition UNESCO, my dear friend Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, a real lady who gives part of herself to every noble aim. It was her initiative and I thank her a lot. This exhibition is of great importance because it points out a big moral, ideological and cultural mistake. Those who will visit the exhibition will understand why no comments are necessary. It shows that one part of the monument is placed in Greece and the other one in Great Britain”.
Finally, Mr. Jean Michel Jarre, pointed out in his speech: “Two years ago, I organized a concert under the Acropolis in cooperation with Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis hoping that I would turn the interest of the public opinion to the unification of the Parthenon sculptures, because this unique monument is a very particular case. It is not merely a monument being exposed to a museum, but one, which is divided in two parts. In other words, it is a divided monument which, one day, should be reunited”.
The numerous guests and personalities from all over the world, who attended the opening of the exhibition, expressed their enthusiasm about it. Among the guests there were also: the 180 permanent representatives, Ambassadors of UNESCO member states, such as the permanent representative of the U.K. to UNESCO, Amb. David-Leslie Stanton, many Academicians, the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Mr. Francesco Bandarin, the Italian actress Valentina Cortese, the President of UNESCO Executive Council, Mrs. Aziza Benani, the French intellectual and President of the European Research University, Mr. Jean-Pierre Faye, the deputy of the European Parliament Mrs. Rodi Kratsas, Mr. Jacques Ahrweiler, etc.
The exhibition was opened to the public until the 18th of April 2003.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.