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

A deal that might see the Parthenon Sculptures returned to Greece is “close”, a former adviser to the nation’s authorities has advised the BBC.

Prof Irene Stamatoudi mentioned it “seems negotiations have gone forward” over relocating the antiquities – often known as the Elgin Marbles – which had been taken from Athens greater than 200 years in the past and are displayed within the British Museum.

It got here as Sir Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart met for talks in Downing Street on Tuesday, although No 10 has mentioned the problem shouldn’t be on the agenda.

An official account of the assembly launched by Downing Street made no point out of the problem being mentioned, although Greek’s public broadcaster ERT claimed it had been.

The assembly comes amid studies that talks over a deal which might see the statues moved to Athens have lately progressed.

The standing of the sculptures has been a supply of diplomatic pressure between the UK and Greece for many years.

Greece says they were stolen, however the British Museum rejects that and says they had been legally obtained. Talks between Greece and the museum have been going on since 2021.

Prof Stamatoudi, who suggested the Greek tradition minister throughout earlier Elgin Marbles negotiations, advised BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she believes “a deal is close” however was not sure if it was “close enough”.

She mentioned the Greek authorities has proposed a “cultural, strategic partnership” which might contain different antiquities being despatched to the British Museum to fill the gallery which might be left vacant by any return.

Negotiations over what may very well be despatched to the British Museum are “secret”, Prof Stamatoudi mentioned, including that whereas she shouldn’t be personally concerned on this spherical of talks, she believes it will contain “antiquities that attract public attention”.

Prof Statamoudi mentioned securing the return is one thing “all Greeks are passionate about” because the antiquities are broadly thought-about to be a part of the nation’s “cultural heritage”.

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

The concern precipitated a diplomatic spat final 12 months when then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled a planned meeting with Mitsotakis after he indicated he would use it to raise the issue.

The earlier authorities mentioned the sculptures ought to stay within the museum. In opposition, Labour’s view was they would not stand in the way in which of a mortgage association between the British Museum and Athens if one was organized.

Government sources in Athens have advised Greek media Mitsotakis desires to “pick up the thread” with Starmer following a meeting between the pair in November 2023.

Earlier this week, Greek authorities spokesman Pavlos Marinakis mentioned Mitsotakis would elevate the problem once more with Starmer however that it was extra of a matter for the British Museum than the federal government.

He additionally denied a Sky News report that three non-public conferences had taken place between senior Greek officers and members of the British Museum board of administrators.

Asked in the event that they mentioned the potential return of the marbles, Starmer’s official spokesman mentioned: “The government’s position is that we have no plans to change the law that would permit a permanent move, and that the case of decisions relating to the care and management and sculptures are a matter for the trustees for the British Museum, which is operationally independent of the government.”

Starmer is regarded as extra open to the statues being relocated than his predecessor, offering a deal could be struck between the Greek authorities and the British Museum.

The Elgin Marbles had been crafted within the fifth century BC and had been initially displayed within the Parthenon in Athens. They are thought-about among the many most prized antiquities from the Ancient Greek interval.

They had been eliminated by British aristocrat Lord Elgin whereas Athens was a part of the Ottoman Empire and had been badly broken en path to London, the place they’ve been displayed since.

A regulation known as the 1963 British Museum Act prevents the removing of objects from the British Museum’s assortment.

The trustees of the British Museum are exploring the opportunity of a particular mortgage association with Greece.

But the Greek authorities has beforehand mentioned it is not going to comply with a mortgage as this might acknowledge the British Museum’s possession of the sculptures.