EPAA deal that might see the Parthenon Sculptures returned to Greece is “shut”, a former adviser to the nation’s authorities has informed the BBC.
Prof Irene Stamatoudi stated it “appears negotiations have gone ahead” over relocating the antiquities – also called 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 Road on Tuesday – although it’s unclear whether or not the Elgin Marbles had been mentioned.
An official account of the assembly launched by No 10 made no point out of it, although Greek’s public broadcaster ERT claimed it had been raised within the talks.
A Downing Road spokesperson refused to be drawn over whether or not or not it had been mentioned, saying solely: “Understandably, the Greek Prime Minister would have raised many points however… their dialogue targeted on areas of shared cooperation.”
The assembly got here amid stories 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, informed BBC Radio 4’s Immediately programme she believes “a deal is shut” however was not sure if it was “shut sufficient”.
She stated 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 might be despatched to the British Museum are “secret”, Prof Stamatoudi stated, including that whereas she isn’t personally concerned on this spherical of talks, she believes it could contain “antiquities that appeal to public consideration”.
Prof Statamoudi stated securing the return is one thing “all Greeks are enthusiastic about” because the antiquities are extensively thought of 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 problem prompted a diplomatic spat final yr 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 stated the sculptures ought to stay within the museum. In opposition, Labour’s view was they would not stand in the best way of a mortgage association between the British Museum and Athens if one was organized.
Authorities sources in Athens have informed Greek media Mitsotakis needs to “choose up the thread” with Starmer following a meeting between the pair in November 2023.
Earlier this week, Greek authorities spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated Mitsotakis would increase the difficulty 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 personal conferences had taken place between senior Greek officers and members of the British Museum board of administrators.
Requested in the event that they mentioned the potential return of the marbles, Starmer’s official spokesman stated: “The federal government’s place is that we’ve no plans to alter the regulation that might allow a everlasting transfer, and that the case of selections referring to the care and administration and sculptures are a matter for the trustees for the British Museum, which is operationally unbiased of the federal government.”
Downing Road additionally stated the federal government had not been requested to contemplate any return proposal by the British Museum.
ReutersStarmer is regarded as extra open to the statues being relocated than his predecessor, offering a deal will 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’re thought of among the many most prized antiquities from the Historic 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.
However the Greek authorities has beforehand stated it won’t conform to a mortgage as this may acknowledge the British Museum’s possession of the sculptures.
Further reporting by Tom Symonds and Nikos Papanikolaou
