British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held talks with the Greek leader in London on Tuesday as the UK resumed its efforts to return the marble statues that once stood in the Parthenon.
Johnson said he “understood the strength of the Greek people’s feeling” about the sculptures after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised the issue during the talks.
But the British leader emphasized that the decision in this regard rests with the British Museum, which houses the marbles.
What is the Elgin marble?
The marbles – 17 figures and part of a frieze that adorned the 2,500-year-old Acropolis monument – were taken by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, in the early 19th century. Britain claims that Elgin acquired the sculptures legally when Greece was ruled by the Ottomans.
MEPs from 12 different European countries gathered last year to call on Johnson to return the frieze.
Mitsotakis went so far as to suggest that Greece would be willing to lend other ancient treasures in exchange for the marbles.
The request for return is backed by the UN
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK is the rightful owner of the Leon Neil/Pool orbs via AP
“The obligation to return the Parthenon sculptures rests entirely with the United Kingdom government,” Oikonomou said. He added that Greece’s request for intergovernmental talks on the issue was supported by the UN cultural agency UNESCO.
Greece has said that the new Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, will be used to display the sculptures if they are returned.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed on Friday that the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum should be returned to Athens and called for negotiations with the UK to achieve this goal.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in March that Britain is the rightful owner of the Parthenon marbles, rejecting Greece’s ongoing request for the return of the 2,500-year-old sculptures.
“The United Kingdom must move to a good faith dialogue with Greece, and I urge them to do so,” Mitsotakis said in a speech in Paris.
“The obligation to return the Parthenon sculptures therefore lies squarely with the UK government,” he said.
