Mitsotakis: Because there is a dynamic for the return of the sculptures of the Parthenon

The Prime Minister speaks to the British newspaper The Telegraph about the dynamics that are being formed for the United Kingdom to return the sculptures of the Parthenon.

The repatriation of an important fragment of the Parthenon from Sicily to Athens shows that “momentum is being built” towards the final repatriation of the Parthenon sculptures, which could lead to an agreement with the British Museum, says Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Mitsotakis said that Greece was “composing the puzzle” and that the agreement reached with an Italian museum (the Antonino Salinas Museum in Palermo) could be a blueprint for an agreement with Britain.

On Monday, the Sicilian fragment – which most likely depicts the lower extremities of the Goddess Artemis – will be unveiled in its new “home” at the Acropolis Museum in the Greek capital, taking its place in a full-size representation of the Parthenon’s eastern frieze becoming more complete with each piece returned.

“There are similarities with the British Museum”

“There are similarities between what is happening now (including the Italian Museum) and what could be happening with the British Museum,” he said.

According to the agreement reached with the Antonino Salinas Archaeological Museum, the work – depicting either Artemis or Persuasion – will be borrowed in Athens for four years in exchange for borrowing two important items from the collection of the Acropolis Museum.
The agreement can be renewed for another four years, after which Sicily intends to make the return permanent subject to approval by the Italian Ministry of Culture.

The piece was originally acquired by Robert Fagan, the former British consul in Sicily, and was purchased by the University of Palermo from his widow in 1820.

“Has been in Sicily for centuries”

Mr Mitsotakis said: “It is an important step in the composition of the puzzle, it includes many museums, not just the British Museum.

“This is an important fragment because it is quite large, it is part of the frieze depicting the gods. “It has been in Sicily for almost two centuries and what is important is the agreement, not as a loan, but as a deposit for eight years with the prospect of it remaining indefinite,” the prime minister said.

Boris Johnson has said the future of the sculptures is a matter for the British Museum, and the museum says it is being barred by Parliament from returning them.

According to the British newspaper, in November Mr. Mitsotakis made a new offer for the return of the sculptures when he visited Downing Street.

telegraph.co.uk

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