UK, Greece holding ‘secret talks’ over treasured Elgin Marbles
- The ancient sculptures were taken from Athen’s Parthenon temple by diplomat Lord Elgin who gave them to the British Museum in 1817
- Athens insists the sculptures were stolen and successive Greek governments have failed to make significant headway in the dispute
The British Museum and the Greek prime minister are in the “advanced stage” of “secret talks” over the “possible return” of the Parthenon Marbles, local media reported on Saturday.
The ancient sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, were taken from the Parthenon temple in Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and have been held by the British Museum ever since. Greece wants them returned.
The behind-the-scenes talks between British Museum chair George Osborne and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis “have been taking place in London since November 2021”, daily newspaper Ta Nea reported.
It said the latest discussions took place at a hotel this week, while Mitsotakis was in the British capital to promote Greek business interests.
The “delicate” negotiations between Osborne, a former British finance minister, and the Greek leader were at “an advanced stage” but Greek officials cautioned they could still “hit a stalemate at the eleventh hour”, the paper said.
“It is possible that a mutually beneficial solution can be found. The Parthenon Sculptures can be reunited and at the same time the concerns of the British Museum can be taken into account,” ANA-MPA news agency reported Mitsotakis as saying on Monday.