Greece is in negotiations with Britain regarding the return of the marbles from the Parthenon

Athens/London - Greek and British officials have held confidential discussions over the past year regarding the return of statues and other artifacts from the Athenian Parthenon that are held in the collections of the British Museum. An agreement on the ancient Greek monuments is nearly complete, Greek newspaper Ta Nea reported over the weekend, citing diplomatic sources. However, a spokesperson for the Greek government stated today that they do not expect it to be signed soon, and the information was not confirmed by a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister.

According to sources from Ta Nea, the private talks began in November of last year. Participants in the negotiations included the director of the British Museum and former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and other members of the Greek government. "The agreement is 90 percent ready, the critical remaining ten percent needs to be sorted out," a diplomatic source told the newspaper, adding that "the devil is in the details."

According to today's edition of Kathimerini, the Greek Prime Minister also discussed the matter last week during his visit to London. There, he met among others with King Charles III. "Yes, we see progress. I do not want to speak publicly about the conversations we have had, but I believe that there is a better understanding," the newspaper quotes Mitsotakis. According to Kathimerini, the media weight of the topic is increasing as parliamentary elections in Greece approach, which will take place next year.

"The negotiations are in the early stages. We are far from announcing a final agreement," said government spokesman Jannis Oikonomou today in response to press reports. The British Museum stated in a statement that it does not intend to disperse its collection. "We are seeking new positive and long-term relationships with countries and communities around the world, including Greece," the museum stated.

Regarding the possible return of the Parthenon sculptures, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the cabinet does not intend to change the law that sets very strict conditions for the donation or sale of items from the British Museum's collections. "Our position has not changed. Decisions regarding the care and management of the collections pertain to the museum and its curators," the spokesperson said. The British government had previously indicated to Greek officials that discussions about ancient Greek monuments must primarily be conducted with the British Museum, which holds the sculptures and other marbles in its collections.

One of the contentious points, according to Kathimerini, concerns ownership. It would be unacceptable for Athens to receive the artifacts from the Parthenon back as temporary loans. On the other hand, the British Museum rejects Greek claims that it acquired the sculptures and other works by dubious means. Kathimerini also believes it is unlikely that all the marbles from the Parthenon will return to Greece.

However, according to Ta Nea, the so-called Palermo model is not excluded. The Sicilian archaeological museum returned some elements from the Parthenon to Athens as a permanent loan.

In the early 19th century, the then British ambassador to Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin, removed the works from Athens. He claimed that he obtained permission from the authorities of the Ottoman Empire, under which the Greek metropolis then fell. However, Greece argues that there are no documents to support this claim. Furthermore, independent Greece considered the Ottoman Empire an occupying power from which it liberated itself during the War of Independence in 1829.