Negotiations to return the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, also known as the Elgin Marbles, appear to be progressing, with a former adviser to the Greek government suggesting that an agreement is “close.”
The sculptures, removed from Athens more than 200 years ago and currently housed in the British Museum, have long been a point of contention between Greece and the UK.
Professor Irene Stamatoudi, who previously advised on the matter, revealed that Greece has proposed a “cultural, strategic partnership,” potentially involving the loan of other antiquities to the British Museum to replace the returned marbles.
While the discussions remain secretive, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made the sculptures’ return a political priority.
The issue resurfaced following Mitsotakis’s meeting with UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, though official statements did not confirm whether the marbles were discussed.
Greece considers the sculptures a vital part of its cultural heritage, while the British Museum maintains they were legally acquired.
Talks, which began in 2021, are exploring possibilities such as a loan arrangement, but a 1963 UK law prevents the permanent removal of items from the museum’s collection.
With Starmer reportedly more open to relocation than his predecessors, and Greece unwilling to accept a loan that implies British ownership, the path to a resolution remains complex but potentially within reach.
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