New facts on the issue of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures[/B] to Greece,[/B] brings the statement made by the president of the British Museum, George Osborne.
Specifically, speaking on a radio show, Osborne said that an agreement should be made[/B] with Greece for their return and sharing.[/B]
In an interview with LBC radio, he said that "there has to be a deal where we can tell both stories in Athens and London if we both approach this without a lot of conditions, without a burden, without red lines... Reasonable people could arrange something that makes the most of the Parthenon marbles, but if either side says there is no offer, then there will be no deal," he said.
When asked if some of the sculptures could be "moved to Greece at least for a while and then back to London", Osborne said "that kind of arrangement" might be appropriate, although he could not "speak for all the trustees of the British Museum".
Momentum for their return to Greece
For some months now, the issue of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures has gained a particular momentum. In recent months the density of articles in the British media has been perhaps the highest ever. UNESCO's proposal for direct bilateral talks between the British and Greek Ministries of Culture has been accepted by the British government for the first time in the history of the claim to the Parthenon Sculptures.
"After Melina Mercouri's worldwide campaign in the 1980s for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, the campaign is now being continued by the Greek Prime Minister." This is highlighted, among other things, in an extensive report by the ITV television network which highlights the efforts of the Greek government to reunite the sculptures. "Kyriakos Mitsotakis has raised the issue not only on his recent visit to London, but also in his speech to Congress, thus increasing the pressure on Britain," ITV reports. At the same time, the report notes the growing support from both the British public and prominent figures in the art world.
Following the Greek Prime Minister's visit to London in November, where he raised the issue with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, the Greek position seems to be gaining significant new supporters. Perhaps most notable of all is the change of "line" of the Times of London, which has now come out in favour of the return of the sculptures to Greece. The British newspaper has changed its line "after 50 years" as it points out in its editorial of 11 January. "Artists and politicians have argued for many years that these artefacts should return to Greece. The museum and the British government, with the support of the Times, resisted the pressure. But times and circumstances are changing. The sculptures belong in Athens. Now they must return," the British newspaper stressed.
The strong momentum that has developed in favour of the Greek position is also reflected in the polls. Thus, in the latest one carried out by the YouGov company, 59% of Britons said they believed that the sculptures "belong to Greece". Only 18% said the opposite, while 22% of respondents said they had no opinion.
But even leading UK celebrities are now publicly, much more frequently, in favour of the reunification of the sculptures.
Among them is one of the most famous British film directors, Ken Loach, who recently stated clearly, once again, that in his view the sculptures are stolen and should be returned to Greece immediately.
In his opinion the sculptures are stolen and should be returned to Greece immediately. "One detail that shows the arrogance of the thief is that in Britain they call them the Elgin Marbles. And he is the thief. The idea that we, not we, those in power are so unconscious of their crime that they call their loot by the name of the man who stole them, says everything about the arrogance of the imperialists. The Parthenon Sculptures should of course be returned and immediately. Anyone with a sound mind understands this," the award-winning director said.
Stephen Frye, the distinguished British actor and writer who for many years has advocated the return of the sculptures to Greece , a few days ago reiterated in an interview that the British no longer have any real argument. "Imagine if the Americans had bought the Eiffel Tower from the Germans in 1941 and after the liberation of France in 1945 they claimed that because we bought them from the Nazis, they are now ours. It's outrageous," Frye said in the ITV report, among other things. While clarifying that "the Parthenon is far more important to Athens than the Eiffel Tower is to Parisians."
In the same vein, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University, Edith Hall, who stated that quite simply "most people around the world do not understand the arguments of the British Museum. They sound outdated, as if they belong to the 19th rather than the 21st century."
As a British journalist who has been working on the issue for years stressed to AP-ME, "if the pressure of the Greek government continues with method and persistence, then it is certain that at some point the sculptures will return to Greece."
Source: Proto Thema
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