London, Thanasis Gavos

By expressing a desire for one “new relationship” with Greece and for “realistic solutions” to the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures the British Museum reacts to the deconstruction by Turkey (in the context of UNESCO) of the argument regarding the legal acquisition of the Sculptures by Elgin based on an Ottoman firman.

Invited by SKAI to comment on the Turkish position, A spokesman for the London museum said:

“The British Museum recognizes the strong desire of Greece the Parthenon Sculptures in London to be returned to Athens. This is an issue with a very long history, and we understand and respect the strong emotions that this discussion warrants.

»We wish to develop a new relationship with Greece – a ‘parthenon partnership’ – and to explore the possibility of innovative ways of working with our Greek friends, in the hope that the understanding of the Parthenon Sculptures will deepen and continue to inspire people around the world.

»The British Museum has cared for the Parthenon sculptures for over two centuries and the deep investment in the sculptures is something we have in common with our Greek partners. Hopefully this can set the stage for one new relationship and for the realistic solutions we are looking forward to”.

Mendoni: “Turkey confirmed what Greece says – There was no Ottoman firman”

Earlier, the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni asked about the developments in the issue of the Parthenon Sculpturesfocusing on the UNESCO Intergovernmental Conference, made the following statement:

“On Friday night, the work of its special intergovernmental committee was completed Unescowhich concerns the debate surrounding the return of illegally exported cultural goods to their countries of origin.

As is known for the last 40 years, one of the permanent topics on the agenda concerns the Parthenon Sculptures. And this time, the committee reached a recommendation where it calls on the two sides, the British and the Greek, to resolve this issue which dates back several decades.

One of the interesting points of the session was the discussion that took place, around the famous -in quotes- “firmani” of Elgin. I put this in quotation marks because this is an argument from the British side which has been proven not to be genuine. There was never an Ottoman firman which allowed Elgin to treat the Parthenon Sculptures with the brutality he treated. At the meeting a representative of Turkey confirmed what the Greek side has been supporting for years. That there was no firman”.

“Greece is always open to dialogue. He has tried and will continue to try, so that the great national goal, which is the satisfaction of the national request of the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures in Athens, at the Acropolis Museum, becomes a reality,” the Minister of Culture added.