Refugees stranded in Greece visit Acropolis on Europe Day

Refugee families stranded in Greece visited the Acropolis hill in Athens on Monday as part of celebrations for Europe Day under an initiative aimed to raise awareness on the refugee crisis.

The event, held by the Greek Ministry of Culture in assistance with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Flux Laboratory organization, aimed to alarm global community on the ongoing issue of the refugees and migrants, who were trapped in Greece since mid-February after the gradual closing of borders along the Balkan route to central Europe.

"We want Europe to find again its founding principles of democracy, peace, tolerance and acceptance of each individual without discriminations of sexual or religious orientation," Greek Culture Minister Aristidis Baltas said during the tour.

The refugees were mostly young Syrians and Afghans with their families, who live at the reception facilities centers at Eleonas and Schisto. They climbed the Acropolis hill and were guided by archaeologists to its monuments -- the Parthenon, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, and the small temple Athena Nike.

Following the tour at the archaeological site of the Acropolis, the Greek Minister of Culture accepted the group of refugees at the Acropolis museum where they were given souvenirs.

"This visit is very special. Greeks want to show that hospitality is not only material but also moral and historic, connected to their history and ours," Baltas added.

Underlining the significance of the monuments' integrity, Greek Culture Minister linked Syria and the destruction of Palmyra with the antiquity smuggling that followed.

"Neither the Parthenon is an integral monument from this point of view," Baltas pointed out, referring to the international campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon marbles. Enditem