While the British government said it was open to a return of the ancient marbles, George Osborne confirmed negotiations with Athens, while specifying that they had not been finalized.
Will the Greek-English battle for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Athens finally end? According to the British Museum, there were « lots of progress » in discussions with Athens, which is demanding a return of the Parthenon friezes to Greece. However, it remains « still steps to take » before an agreement, declared Wednesday December 4 the president of the London museum George Osborne.
« We are looking to find an arrangement so that at some point some of the sculptures will be in Athens, where of course they originated. And in return, Greece lends us some of its treasures. We have made a lot of progress on this point, but we still have steps to take before any agreement »he said in his podcast Political Currency. These Parthenon marbles have been on display at the British Museum for more than two centuries and Greece is determined to see this heritage return to Athens.
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London paves the way for a return of Parthenon friezes to Greece; the British Museum confirms “discussions”
The day before, following a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his British counterpart Keir Starmer in London, the museum had indicated that it was carrying out « discussions constructives » with Athens with a view to « long-term partnership » concerning these remains. George Osborne recalled that current British legislation prevented the museum from making restitutions except in « very limited cases where it is clear that the goods have been stolen ». « So we cannot (…) simply return (the friezes), but we are authorized to lend objects »continued the former Minister of Finance. « We do it all over the world. It’s strange that we don’t lend objects to Greece more regularly, given our history and ties »he added.
But the compromise that will be found between the museum and Athens remains to be precisely defined because the Greeks have so far refused the loan formula. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said a year ago: « we are in no way talking about a loan »and the Greek authorities have continued to repeat it since. The latter, who have been demanding for decades the return of these precious friezes detached from the Parthenon, maintain that they were the subject of a « pillage » orchestrated in 1802 by Lord Elgin, British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. But London believes that the sculptures were « legally acquired » by Lord Elgin, who sold them to the British Museum.
