"It is true that there is a dialogue between the Greek government and the British Museum," George Gerapetritis told the British newspaper "The Guardian".
"Preliminary talks" with the British Museum over the Parthenon Sculptures[BR]"At the moment, these are preliminary talks and, yes, I have met the head of the British Museum, George Osborne," the minister continued.
The Guardian begins its report by stating that "senior Greek officials are in 'preliminary' talks with the British Museum over what could amount to a tectonic shift in the resolution of the world's longest-running cultural dispute: the repatriation of the 5th century BC Parthenon Sculptures.The news of secret talks between Greece and the British Museum on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures was revealed by the newspaper "Ta Nea" in an article published today. According to this information, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was among the officials who took part in the talks.
Secret meetings for 13 months
According to the Nea report, the president of London's largest museum visited the ambassador's residence for the first time in mid-November 2021 for "exploratory talks with Mitsotakis."
According to the Nea report, the president of London's largest museum visited the ambassador's residence for the first time in mid-November 2021 for "exploratory talks with Mitsotakis. In October of the same year, he met with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in the same place, followed by a meeting with State Minister George Gerapetritis in the meantime.
According to sources with knowledge of the matter, negotiations between Osborne and Mitsotakis are "at an advanced stage".
According to sources with knowledge of the matter, negotiations between Osborne and Mitsotakis are "at an advanced stage".
However, Greek officials warn, according to the newspaper, that no agreement has been finalized and that "we cannot rule out the possibility that the talks could come to a deadlock at the last minute, as happens in any delicate negotiation."
"The devil is in the details."
"The devil is in the details. The agreement is 90% complete, but a crucial 10% remains unresolved. It is difficult to get there, but not impossible. Significant progress has been made. We will see in the coming months whether this progress is enough to reach an agreement," a Greek source told Nea."
Sources in Athens described the report, which gave a detailed description of where the talks were held, as "not only credible but also very exciting," the British newspaper added.
Moreover, just a few days ago, on November 28, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking with Kevin Featherstone, professor of Modern Greek Studies and director of the Greek Observatory at the London School of Economics, had said that "a win-win solution can be found for the sculptures so that their reunification becomes a reality", specifying that this solution would also answer the concerns of the people of the British Museum.
"I don't want to say anything further publicly about this at this time," the Prime Minister added, noting that "the British people understand the importance of reuniting the Sculptures and are very supportive." "We have seen progress," Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, however. "I understand that there is momentum, I am consciously talking about the reunification of the Sculptures and not about return," Mitsotakis said.
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