The Parthenon Marbles could ‘soon’ be handed over to Greece as part of a long-term loan being finalized between the British Museum and Athens, the British newspaper reported. The Telegraph.
According to Telegramthe president of the museum and former British finance minister George Osborne is in the process of concluding an agreement with Athens for the return to Greece of these treasures, within the framework of a “cultural exchange” which would make it possible to circumvent a British law preventing the London museum to dismantle its collection.
“We have already said publicly that we are actively seeking a new partnership regarding the Parthenon with our friends in Greece and as we enter a new year, discussions are ongoing,” a spokesperson told AFP on Wednesday. from the British Museum.
Since the beginning of the XXe century, Greece officially requests the unsuccessful restitution of a 75-meter frieze detached from the Parthenon as well as one of the famous caryatids from the Erechtheion, a small ancient temple also on the rock of the Acropolis, both of which are key pieces from the British Museum.
London claims the sculptures were “legally acquired” in 1802 by British diplomat Lord Elgin who sold them to the British Museum. But Greece maintains that they were the object of “looting” while the country was under Ottoman occupation.
The agreement negotiated between the museum and Greece would be, according to the sources quoted by the Telegram, a loan agreement for the frieze to return to Greece quickly. But this “gesture” would not end the quarrel, Athens intending to continue to demand full restitution.
Greek media had already reported in December that secret negotiations had been going on for a year between George Osborne and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The British government then recalled that the British Museum was subject to a 1963 law which prevents it from giving up or selling objects from its collection, except under very limited conditions.
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