Although both countries have made it clear that no deal is yet imminent, an insider says the talks have reached a stage “unprecedented”.
The New York Times hosts an extensive article about the Parthenon Sculptures and the debate that has started again around their eventual return to Greece.
The author of the text, after briefly describing the history of the Sculptures and how they came to be in the British Museum, points out that the pressure for their return has increased as several museums have returned high-profile objects, such as the “Benin bronzes”, the return last year of a part of Parthenon which for more than 200 years was exhibited in a museum in Sicily, but also the announcement of the Vatican in December, that it will hand over fragments of the Parthenon. As the report states, “there are now hopeful signs that perhaps a solution between the British Museum and Greece could be in sight as officials on both sides have acknowledged that secret talks have taken place. However, while these revelations have blossomed and there is hope that real progress will soon be made, both sides have made it clear that no deal is yet imminent.”
“Indeed, they remain very far away on some basic questions,” comments the columnist.
Since November 2021, secret talks have been ongoing in London between the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the former British finance minister and current president of the British Museum, George Osborne, the New York Times points out. These talks are taking place in secluded luxury hotel rooms and the Greek ambassador’s mansion, where the two sides are trying to reach an agreement on the future of the Parthenon Sculptures.
In several of these meetings, underline two sources in the American newspaper, George Gerapetritis has participated for the Greek government. How well the negotiations for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures went has been the subject of much speculation. However, it appears that a deal remains much further away than the reports that often fill international media headlines suggest. In fact, in recent days officials from both sides have spoken publicly to put the brakes on growing expectations that any deal was imminent.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has asked the British Museum to return the entire frieze in his collection, about 250 feet of carved stone that once wrapped around the Parthenon, according to what he told The New York Times. The Greek prime minister wanted an agreement that these would remain in Greece for at least 20 years where they would be reunited with other parts of the frieze already on display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The Greek prime minister hoped that, after 20 years, the agreement would be extended so that the frieze panels would remain in Athens. In fact, he hoped to negotiate the return of the remaining sculptures at a later date, the person familiar with the matter added. In exchange for the frieze, the Greek museums would supply the British Museum with a rotating collection of priceless objects, some of which had never left Greece, the person added. The British Museum, however, wants a different deal, according to the person with knowledge of the situation.
He also comments that the talks have reached a stage that “we have not seen before” since both sides were “negotiating in good faith”, the person added. However, further progress is not expected until after the Greek parliamentary elections are held later in 2023.
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I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
