At a time when the negotiations for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens, have progressed further than ever and occupy, on an almost daily basis, the international press, the British side, obviously maintaining a mild defensive attitude, since the majority of world opinion is in favour of the return of the looted cultural property, seems to be trying to buy time, with the ultimate goal of securing the best possible outcome.
Could this be the return of the Marbles in early 2023 to be exhibited for ten years at the Acropolis Museum, as the British “The Art Newspaper” claims in its publication, or the establishment of a branch of the British Museum in Athens, as leaked a few days ago, by ANTI media, a senior British government official?
As the report says the Parthenon Marbles could be returning to their origin for 10 years in early 2023.
After more than 200 years at the British Museum, the Parthenon Marbles may soon return home to Greece, a move that would resolve one of the long-running disputes in the global museum sector.
George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, met with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, in London last week, with the fate of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon marble sculptures reportedly the only item on the agenda. Osborne and Mitsotakis then gave an address at the London School of Economics, during which Kyriakoss said that the permanent return of the marbles was “possible”.
Kyriakos said: “A win-win solution can be found that will result in the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures in Greece, while at the same time taking into account concerns that the British Museum may have.”
The negotiations were the latest in a series of secret discussions that have taken place over a period of months between Osborne and the British Museum and ministers serving in Mitsotakis’ administration, according to Ta Nea, the Athens newspaper which broke the news. Sources told Ta Nea that the negotiations are now “at an advanced stage”.
If the deal is finalised, the marbles are expected to be returned to Greece in early 2023, and will be displayed at the Acropolis Museum alongside other artefacts from the Parthenon. Previously, the British Museum was in negotiations to lend the marbles to the new Acropolis Museum in Athens for a period of 10 years.
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