Greek and British officials met over the weekend in Paris to negotiate the return of the Parthenon Marbles in the framework of the 19th Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Restitution of Cultural Property. As a result of the meeting, a formal recommendation was addressed to the U.K. government requesting its participation in a UNESCO-mediated process aiming to resolve the issue.

The meeting was attended by Acropolis Museum President Dimitrios Pandermalis as well as representatives from the British Museum and the culture and foreign affairs ministries of both Greece and the U.K. governments. Britain has six months to respond to UNESCO’s unprecedented invitation, however it should be noted that the British side is not obliged to accept UNESCO’s mediation attempt.

The Greek side has always been interested in turning the request for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures into an international matter. It seems that its efforts are slowly gaining momentum.

The issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles drew the international spotlight again last February when George Clooney made a public statement for their return. Now, Mr. Clooney’s wife, international lawyer Amal Alamuddin is also visiting Athens next week in an effort to champion their return.