8 October 2003

REPORT BY BROTHER E J COMINO OAM PSP JP
TO:  The 2003 National Convention, AHEPA Australasia, Wellington, New Zealand

I am very happy to report to this National Convention our achievements in the last year regarding the efforts of this Committee. The aim is to return to Greece, the Parthenon Marbles. It is a most important issue to ALL Hellenes and Phil-Hellenes who believe in justice and fair play in cultural property disputes.

The Committee has been very active in the campaign for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles. I have continued in my extensive programme of lectures and presentations on Restitution, both nationally and internationally. Numerous publications and brochures have been produced and disseminated.

Our Committee is frequently represented on radio and television. Community and mass circulation newspapers contine to carry out press releases, in both Greek and English.

Since my contribution to the July 2003 "International Conference on the Parthenon Marbles" in New York I have continued to serve as a spokesman on the issue of Restitution wherever appropriate. After the International conference in July 2002, the Chairman of AHEPA International, Ptolemeos E Kotzambasis, appointed me (Emauel J Comino) as the spokesman for Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles.

Writing to the International Organising Committee - Australia - for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles in August 2002, the then Supreme President of AHEPA (America) Dr James F Dimitriou, acknowledged that   ".....AHEPA International would benefit by having you (Emanuel J Comino) as a spokesman on the Parthenon Marbles to serve as an expert and to provide specifics on the issue."

Notable amongst my most recent initiatives was my attendance at the "7th International Law Seminar" entitled "Resolution of Cultural Property Disputes", held at the Peace Palace, Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, Netherlands. We were greatly honoured that I was invited to represent the Committee at this important seminar on 23 May 2003.

In addressing the seminar I had the opportunity to remind the gathering of world experts on cultural property disputes of the central importance of the Parthenon Marbles issue. I was able to draw attention to the fact that "Lord Elgin's taking of the world's greatest single collection of classical Greek sculptures is probably the world's most celebrated cultural property dispute."

On 29 July 2003, I gave an illustrated lecture on Restitution at the AHEPA (America) 81st Annual Supreme Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. On 13 August 2003, I gave an illustrated lecture in Sydney organised by AHEPA's Educational Committee of NSW. I have presesented an average of six illustrated lectures each year since 1981, Australia wide,  in USA, Greece and New Zealand.

Since the lecture in Phoenix, Arizona, I have been asked to go to Hollywood, California to make a 28 minute lecture  for a Television programme. At this stage I am waiting for confirmation of date and cost. Can AHEPA help?

The Committee continues the good work of the past. It enjoys the support of an extensive and diverse array of prominent Australians. We look with certainty towards the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

As always we will continue to work hard for Restitution. This is the most important cultural issue in the world and I urge you all to support us in our work.

Fraternally yours,

Bro Emanuel John Comino. OAM PSP JP
Founder and Chairman

Thank you
Emanuel J. Comino OAM
Founder and Chairman