Elgin Marbles: UK-Greece deal ‘close’ on Parthenon sculptures

A former adviser to the country’s government has told the BBC that a deal to return the Parthenon statues to Greece is “close”.

Professor Irene Stamatodi said talks appeared to have progressed over relocating the artefacts – also known as the Elgin Marbles – which were taken from Athens 200 years ago and housed in the British Museum.

It came as Sir Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart met in Downing Street on Tuesday for talks – although it is unclear if the Elgin marbles were discussed.

An official account of the meeting released by No 10 made no mention of it, although Greece’s public broadcaster ERT claimed it was raised in the conversation.

A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment on whether it had been discussed, saying only: “Understandably, the Greek prime minister will have raised a number of issues but… his The discussion focused on areas of joint cooperation.”

The meeting comes amid reports that a deal has been negotiated that would see the statues moved to Athens, with progress recently being made.

The status of the statues has been a source of diplomatic tension between Britain and Greece for decades.

Greece They say it was stolen But the British Museum denies this and says they were obtained legally. Communication between Greece and the Museum Ongoing from 2021.

Professor Stamatodi, who advised the Greek culture minister during previous negotiations for the Elgin Marbles, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that he believed “a deal was close” but was not sure if it was “close enough”. is

He said the Greek government had proposed a “cultural, strategic partnership” in which other artefacts would be sent to the British Museum to fill the gallery that would be left empty by any return.

Negotiations over what might be sent to the British Museum are “confidential”, Professor Stamatodi said, adding that although he was not personally involved in the negotiations at that stage, he believed it was “Artifacts of public interest” will be included.

Prof Statamoudi said ensuring the return was something “all Greeks are passionate about” as the antiquities are widely considered part of the country’s “cultural heritage”.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made the return of the Elgin Marbles a political priority.

The issue had led to a diplomatic spat between the then Prime Minister Rishi Shankar last year. canceled a planned meeting with Mitsotakis after he indicated he would use the issue to raise it..

The previous government had said that the statues should remain in the museum. In opposition, Labor believed that if they did not stand in the way of loan arrangements between the British Museum and Athens.

Government sources in Athens have told Greek media that Mitsotakis wants to “pick a thread” with Starmer. After the pair met in November 2023.

Earlier this week, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Mitsotakis would raise the matter with Starmer again but that it was more a matter for the British Museum than the government.

He also refused. Sky News reports that three private meetings took place between senior Greek officials and members of the British Museum Board of Directors;

Asked if he had discussed the possible return of the marbles, Starmer’s official spokesman said: “The Government’s position is that we have no plans to change the law to allow a permanent move. , and that the matter of decisions relating to care and management and the sculptures is a matter for the Trustees of the British Museum, which is practically independent of the Government.”

Downing Street also said the government had not been asked to consider any return proposals from the British Museum.

Starmer is believed to be more open to transferring the statues than his predecessor, so a deal between the Greek government and the British Museum could be in place.

The Elgin Marbles were produced in the 5th century BC and were originally displayed in the Parthenon in Athens. They are considered among the most valuable artifacts of the ancient Greek period.

They were removed by British aristocrat Lord Elgin while Athens was part of the Ottoman Empire and badly damaged on their way to London, where they were displayed.

A law called the 1963 British Museum Act prevents the removal of objects from the British Museum’s collection.

The trustees of the British Museum are exploring the possibility of special loan arrangements with Greece.

But the Greek government has previously said it would not agree to the loan because it would recognize the British Museum’s ownership of the statues.

Additional reporting by Tom Symonds and Nikos Papanikolaou