The British and Greek prime ministers held talks on Tuesday over illegal migration and support for Ukraine, but a long-running dispute over the ancient artwork of the Parthenon Marbles loomed over the meeting.
Britain’s Keir Starmer hosted his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis amid reports that the age-old saga over the priceless sculptures could be moving towards a resolution.
The Marbles overshadowed Mitsotakis’ last official visit to Britain, when Starmer’s predecessor Rishi Sunak canceled a planned meeting at the last minute after the Greek leader’s public comments on the controversial issue reportedly irritated the British side.
Starmer, who took charge in July, underlined “the importance of the relationship between Britain and Greece”, his office said in a readout of the talks that made no mention of the sculptures, known as the Elgin Marbles.
It noted that the pair “agreed to redouble” joint actions to tackle illegal migration. It reiterated “their unwavering support for Ukraine” and “the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza.”
However, Starmer’s spokesman told reporters that the British position on the Marbles has not changed and that the issue remains a matter for the British Museum.
“We have no plans to change the law that would allow permanent relocation of the sculptures to Greece,” the spokesperson said.
“Decisions relating to the care and management of (the) sculptures are a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, which is operationally independent of the government.”
– ‘Lost his marbles’ –
Before the meeting, Mitsotakis said he “firmly believes” the sculptures will return to Athens more than two centuries after their departure to Britain.
“Discussions with the British Museum continue,” he told ANT1 TV on Saturday. His spokesman said the issue would be raised “clearly” in London.
According to British media, Starmer is more open to the return of the masterpieces to Athens than Sunak.
Sky News reported on Monday that Mitsotakis and his foreign secretary had held at least two “private meetings” this year with British Museum officials, including museum chairman George Osborne.
According to The Guardian newspaper, the talks were moving towards an “agreement in principle”.
Sunak canceled the meeting a year ago in what was seen as a diplomatic slap in the face to Mitsotakis, and the latest example of the dispute poisoning bilateral relations.
The Greek leader, a staunch campaigner for the return of the Marbles, had told the BBC at the time that keeping part of the Parthenon friezes out of Greece was like “cutting the Mona Lisa in half”.
Starmer, then head of the opposition, later told the House of Commons that Sunak had “clearly lost his marbles” by canceling the meeting.
But Mitsotakis has also stressed that finding a solution is a matter for the British Museum, not the government.
Athens has been demanding the return of the 75-meter-long friezes for decades, a campaign revived in the 1980s by Greek singer and actress Melina Mercouri when she was culture minister.
– ‘Legally obtained’ –
Greek authorities claim the sculptures were looted in 1802 by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
But London claims the sculptures were ‘legally acquired’ by Elgin and then sold to the British Museum.
A 1963 British law prohibits the museum from giving away treasures.
In Britain, where a 2023 YouGov poll shows a majority of Britons support restitution, opponents fear a domino effect amid claims from several countries.
The Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a temple built in the fifth century BC in tribute to the goddess Athena.
The new Acropolis Museum, inaugurated in 2009, has reserved a space for the Frisians of the Parthenon on the first floor of the building, where the four sides of the temple have been faithfully recreated to scale.
The missing friezes have been replaced by casts.
The Acropolis is the most visited archaeological site in Greece. Its popularity has soared in recent years that authorities have had to introduce reservation slots to control the summer crowds.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s collection includes eight million objects, including the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Friezes.
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