Greece, Britain discussing Parthenon Marbles return but deal not close - Greek govt spox

Record ID: 1700895

  • Title: Greece, Britain discussing Parthenon Marbles return but deal not close - Greek govt spox
  • Date: 5th December 2022
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (FILE - JANUARY 10, 2022)(REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLASTER COPIES OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES STANDING ON A PODIUM IN THE PARTHENON GALLERY OF THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM PLASTER COPIES OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES ON THE WALL OF THE PARTHENON GALLERY IN THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM VIEW OF THE PARTHENON TEMPLE FROM THE WINDOWS OF THE PARTHENON GALLERY IN THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2022 11:51
  • Keywords: Britain British Museum Greece Lord Elgin Parthenon Marbles sculptures
  • Location: ATHENS, GREECE, AND LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: ATHENS, GREECE, AND LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA003450605122022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greece is in talks with Britain over the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens but a deal is not imminent, the Greek government said on Monday (December 5), quashing reports that an agreement had almost been reached.
    For decades Greece has called for the permanent return of the 2,500-year-old sculptures from the British Museum that British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in the early 19th century, when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which then ruled Greece.
    On Saturday, Greece's "Ta Nea" newspaper cited a Greek source as saying that an agreement was 90% complete but that "a critical 10% remains unresolved."
    Citing a British official, Greece's ANT1 TV said on Sunday that the only way to return the sculptures to Greece without violating British law was "if the British Museum opened a kind of annex in Greece."
    "Our main pursuit, our main concern, is the reunification of the sculptures of the Parthenon," government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou told reporters when asked about the media reports.
    "In this direction, our government from the beginning of its term has been and is still in discussions with the British side. These discussions are at a preliminary stage, we are far from announcements or definitive agreements," he added.
    The British Museum, custodian of the marbles which include about half of the 160-meter (525-ft) frieze that adorned the Parthenon, has always ruled out returning them, saying they were legally acquired.
    In a statement on Monday, the Museum said it was not going to dismantle its collection "as it tells a unique story of our common humanity." However, it said it wanted to forge a new "Parthenon Partnership" with Greece.
    "We are seeking new positive, long term partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that of course includes Greece," it said.
    Last week, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that there was "progress" and a sense of "momentum" in talks with Britain.
    In March, the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO urged both countries to reach a settlement on the issue.
    Athens stepped up its campaign for the return of the marbles after opening the new Acropolis Museum in 2009 at the foot of the Acropolis hill that it hopes will one day house them.
    In May, the so-called "Fagan fragment", a 35-by-31-centimeter (12-by-14-inch) piece showing the foot of the seated ancient Greek goddess Artemis, which was part of the Parthenon's eastern frieze, was returned to the Acropolis Museum from a museum in Italy.
    (Production: Deborah Kyvrikosaios)
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