Parthenon sculptures: London negotiates with Athens, writes La Repubblica

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It is emphasized that secret talks took place in London and that “according to the Greek authorities, the possibility of returning the Parthenon Marbles, at some point to Athens, is not only exciting, but essential”

“And if “Elginia” really returns to Athens now?” asks today the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which notes in its publication that “this long-standing case concerning Greece and the United Kingdom may find a solution, after some “top secret” meetings, which were first held in the wealthy district of Mayfair , at the Greek embassy and then, last week, at a five-star hotel in the otherwise affluent area of ​​Knightsbridge where, according to the Greek newspaper “Ta Nea”, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the president of the British Museum and former Chancellor of the Exchequer met, George Osborne”.

“The two sides made it known that these were “preliminary talks”, but surely in Athens such a wind of optimism had never blown, regarding the Marbles that Lord Elgin, the British ambassador at the time, took with him illegally and transported to London in the Ottoman Empire, who was bankrupt and suffering from syphilis,” writes La Repubblica. With reference to the history of the “mutilation” of the Parthenon, he adds: “Elgin removed, 75 meters of sculptures, and in a violent way, a total of 160 meters of the extensive and precious diazoma of the fifth century BC, with which the Elgin wanted to decorate his villa in Scotland. In the end, “Elginia” was bought from the British Museum and now here we are, after centuries, referring to this endless conflict.’

According to the Rome newspaper, “there are some signs that, in the near future, something may change». It is emphasized that secret talks took place in London and that “according to the Greek Authorities, the possibility that the Parthenon Marbles may someday return to Athens is not only exciting, but essential».

As La Repubblica points out a few days ago, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at the London School of Economics, said that “finally, there has been progress” and that “a win-win solution is possible, which satisfies both sides”. The Rome newspaper also notes that “officially, the British Museum he emphasized that he “doesn’t mean to dismantle his collection”, but did not deny it meeting of its chairman, Osbornewith the Greeks”.

In its article, the Rome newspaper recalls that last August, according to the Observer, the deputy director of the British Museum, Jonathan Williams, said that “his museum was ready to lower the entire temperature of the debate” and announced new talks. Especially after the urging of Unesco, to solve the issue, at an international and political level.

“The two countries, apart from this case for which the Greeks have been raising their voices since the forties of the last century, have always had excellent relations, since the Greek Revolution of 1821. In the past, Greece offered to transport ancient finds who never left the country, in exchange for the definitive return of the Marbles, not in the form of a loan. A proposal which was not accepted by the United Kingdom and due to the fact that there is an Act of Parliament, which prohibited, in the British Museum, any kind of retreat. At least until now,” concludes La Repubblica.

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