Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Monday said he was confident about the eventual return to Greece of the Parthenon Marbles currently being held at the British Museum in London, despite recent statements to the contrary by the Museum's director.

 Speaking from Thessaloniki, where he presented a series of measures relating to the city's preparations for the 2004 Olympics, Venizelos stressed that an overwhelming majority of public opinion in Britain that almost reached 80 per cent were in favor of returning the sculptures to Athens and their reunification with the Parthenon.

 The minister was also optimistic that a breakthrough might be achieved at the upcoming meeting between Foreign Minister George Papandreou with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, where he said the issue of the Marbles' return will again be put.

Source: Athens News Agency

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