The reunification of the Sculptures and the ongoing negotiations over the past few months were discussed at a conference organized by the Greek community at the London School of Economics in London.

During the discussion, the Chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, Dame Janet Suzman, stated according to ERT that “negotiations have advanced further than ever before.”

“The rebuilding of the British Museum itself seems almost like the perfect moment for the Marbles to perhaps find a new place, and we are discussing the place where they belong—Athens,” emphasized the Chair of the relevant British committee.

“You never acquire ownership title of something that was never yours. The Sculptures are stolen property,” noted Mark Stephens, a lawyer specializing in art and cultural heritage cases.

“From a purely legal perspective, it is clear these were stolen during a time of corruption by Lord Elgin, and they were never his, he never bought them, and they were never sold to him. As the law stipulates in every country, if you have stolen something you never acquire title to it; it never belongs to you. The original owner can always come and take it back,” he stressed.

Author and known philhellene Victoria Hislop, who participated in a panel discussion at the conference, also commented on the issue.

“We are talking about an artwork which is fragmented and needs to be whole. We believe Keir Starmer is in favor, not against, and that gives us hope,” she told ERT.

Roger Michel, Director of the British Institute for Digital Archaeology, stated: “By maintaining precise replicas of the Sculptures, the British Museum will continue its role, while the Sculptures will simultaneously return to their natural and historical location, restoring their cultural and emotional value.”

The issue of reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures remains open and is one of the most important topics in global cultural heritage, with prominent individuals, institutions, and organizations pushing for a resolution.

Indeed, according to Greek public television, the proposal by the director of the British Institute for Digital Archaeology to create three-dimensional replicas of the Parthenon Sculptures currently housed in the British Museum is also on the table.