ATHENS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Greek President Karolos Papoulias warmly welcomed his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano in Athens on Tuesday and thanked him for the return of a fragment of the Parthenon frieze from Palermo.

    Papoulias said that Greece was trying to ensure the return of all the Parthenon fragments abroad, including the sculptures at the British Museum in London.

    "You can appreciate the symbolism and importance of such a gesture," Papoulias underlined, adding that it would help boost cultural and educational ties between Greece and Italy even more.

    "In this framework, we hope to soon operate a Greek Archaeological School in Rome," he added.

    The Italian president is in Athens on an official visit and he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday.