The head of the British Museum, George Osborne, said on Wednesday that a deal with Greece over the Parthenon Sculptures was “still some way off”.

His comments come a day after the London museum confirmed it was holding “constructive” talks with Athens over the transfer of the Parthenon Marbles, with hopes rekindling that a deal could be reached.

“We’re looking to see if we can come up with some arrangement where at some point some of the sculptures will be in Athens, where, of course, their original location was,” Osborne said on a political podcast he co-hosts.

“And in return, Greece will lend us some of its treasures. We’ve made a lot of progress on this, but we’re still a long way from reaching an agreement.”

“I would be in London if we were on the verge of reaching an agreement with Greece on the Parthenon Sculptures,” he added.

Osborne also said he had been given more freedom on the controversial issue by the new Labor government elected in July led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The UK leader hosted his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday.

The meeting came a year after Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak, refused to meet the Greek leader at the last minute following an interview he had given about the Marbles, reports AFP.

In the podcast, Osborne noted: “Keir Starmer said this is a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, who decide independently of the government.

“And, therefore, it is not the same as Rishi Sunak, who refused to see the Greek prime minister. So it seems to me a more logical and diplomatic way to proceed.”

The Parthenon Marbles have been a source of contention between Britain and Greece for over two centuries, reports the news agency.

Greek authorities claim that the sculptures were looted in 1802 by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

London claims the sculptures were “legally purchased” by Elgin and then sold to the British Museum.