ROME (ANA-MPA/Th. Andreadis) - Greek Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis arrived here for talks on combatting antiquities smuggling and closer cooperation between Greece and Italy on cultural issues.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting on Tuesday with Italian counterpart Sandro Bondi, Liapis said they agreed to reinforce bilateral relations in the cultural sector through exchanges and common actions, an agreement sealed by the signing of a relevant cooperation memorandum.
"We will coordinate our efforts in a common front aiming at the protection of our cultural heritage and the return to their country of origin of all antiquities that have been stolen by antiquity smugglers," Liapis also noted.
The two ministers also agreed on reinforcing cooperation regarding theatre, art and cinema.
Liapis announced, on the occasion, the upcoming establishment of a Greek Archeological School in Rome, supported by the Greek government, "which will proceed with excavations and support the joint effort for protection of antiquities."
Italian Culture Minister Bondi will visit Athens in September, while accompanying Italian President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, and visit the new Acropolis Museum.
The Italian side also expressed its intention to return to Greece the "Palermo fragment", belonging to the Temple of Poseidon, and currently stored in Sicily.
"Our cooperation will cover both the sector of maintenance and fighting against the smuggling of antiquities and other sectors such as fashion and projection of all modern artists," Bondi said.
Earlier, Liapis visited the headquarters of the special Italian police unit for the combatting of antiquities smuggling and was briefed on its scope and mission.
Liapis announced that Greek experts will soon tour the Italian unit.
The Greek minister is due to attend later in the evening an event during which Greek actress Irene Papas will be awarded the "Rome" Prize, at the ancient theatre of Ostia Antica, the first harbour city of ancient Rome.
