British Museum ‘in advanced talks’ over return of Parthenon marbles

The British Museum is in advanced talks with Greece over the future of the Parthenon marbles, according to the Guardian.

The newspaper is reporting that talks between the Greek foreign ministry and British Museum chair George Osborne are “moving towards an agreement in principle”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to meet his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis today (3 December) but Downing Street has downplayed suggestions the future of the artefacts will be discussed.

“Our position on the Elgin marbles has not changed,” a spokesperson for Starmer said, adding that the cultural row will not be actively raised by either party.

Mitsotakis has been calling for the return of the entire Parthenon frieze to Athens since taking office five years ago.

Negotiations began in 2021, but the former Conservative government was steadfast in its position that the sculptures should stay as part of the British Museum’s permanent collection, despite calls from UNESCO for them to be returned.

Last December, a cross-party group of peers backed calls for the artefacts to be returned, adding that the repatriation could form part of a new cultural partnership between the UK and Greece.

In June this year, the British Museum said it was seeking “realistic solutions” for the future of the sculptures.