{"id":921,"date":"2024-12-04T19:58:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T19:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/04\/some-distance-remains-in-parthenon-sculptures-deal-says-british-museum-chair\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T19:58:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T19:58:53","slug":"some-distance-remains-in-parthenon-sculptures-deal-says-british-museum-chair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/04\/some-distance-remains-in-parthenon-sculptures-deal-says-british-museum-chair\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Some distance\u2019 remains in Parthenon Sculptures deal, says British Museum chair"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Parthenon Marbles at the British Museum in London, on November 28, 2023. [ANDY RAIN\/EPA]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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A deal to return the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens is \u201cstill some distance\u201d away, the head of the British Museum, which houses most of them, has said.<\/p>\n

George Osborne confirmed that his institution is looking at an agreement that would see some of the contested sculptures come back to Athens in return for Greek treasures being put on display in London.<\/p>\n

But the chairman of the British Museum and former chancellor cautioned that, while the museum is in talks with Greek officials, any agreement is a long way off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I think the clue is that I\u2019m in New York rather than in London, and of course I would be in London if we were on the verge of reaching an agreement with Greece around the Parthenon Sculptures,\u201d Osbourne told the Political Currency podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking to see if we can come to some arrangement where at some point some of the sculptures are in Athens, where, of course, they were originally sighted. And in return, Greece lends us some of its treasures, and we made a lot of progress on that, but we\u2019re still some distance from any kind of agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The marbles are part of a 2,500-year-old frieze that was taken from the Acropolis in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and put on display in the British Museum. Athens says they were removed illegally and wants them returned so they can be displayed alongside the rest of the Parthenon Sculptures at a purpose-built museum in Athens.<\/p>\n

Osborne also commended Prime Minister Keir Starmer\u2019s handling of the issue, who is seen to be more open to the idea of returning the sculptures than his predecessor.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Starmer in Downing Street this week and raised the issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I can gather from the meeting with Keir Starmer, is that Keir Starmer has said, this is very much a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, who are independent of the government,\u201d Osborne said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the same as Rishi Sunak, who refused to see the Greek prime minister.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, a Greek official told the London Times that \u201cprogress for the return of the Parthenon Marbles has been made by the two sides and that is why Mitsotakis is meeting with the British prime minister.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing is in hiding. Nothing is hidden,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n

A British Museum spokesperson said discussions about a Parthenon Partnership are \u201congoing and constructive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that this kind of long-term partnership would strike the right balance between sharing our greatest objects with audiences around the world, and maintaining the integrity of the incredible collection we hold at the museum,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n