# Greece, Britain discussing Parthenon Sculptures return but deal not close, Athens says Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-12-05 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Greek government dispels reports of imminent deal with Meta Description: Get the latest updates on the ongoing discussions between Greece and Britain regarding the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens. Stay informed! URL: https://financedigest.com/greece-britain-discussing-parthenon-sculptures-return-but-deal-not-close-athens-sayshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-12-05t142257z2lynxmpeib40lartroptp4greece-britain-sculptures-1736814762414-compressed.jpg) By Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) – The Greek government on Monday quashed local media reports that a deal with Britain over the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens was imminent but said the two sides were in talks on the long-running dispute. The British government also said it had no plans to change laws which prevent the removal of such items from the Britsh Museum’s collection. The museum, custodian of the sculptures [known in Britain](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-exact-date-on-u-s-travel-reopening-still-not-known.html "Britain says exact date on U.S. travel reopening still not known") as the Elgin Marbles, also reiterated it would not dismantle its collection. Greece has repeatedly called for the permanent [return from the British](https://www.financedigest.com/mallorca-emerges-as-this-years-summer-hotspot-as-british-buyers-return-to-spain-in-their-masses.html "MALLORCA EMERGES AS THIS YEAR’S SUMMER HOTSPOT AS BRITISH BUYERS RETURN TO SPAIN IN THEIR MASSES") Museum of the 2,500-year-old sculptures, which British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Greece’s then-ruler. Greece’s Ta Nea newspaper on Saturday cited a Greek source as saying that an agreement was 90% complete but that “a critical 10% remains unresolved. Since the beginning of its term the [government has been and is in talks with the British side,” government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said on Monday when asked about the media reports](https://www.financedigest.com/european-governments-spend-half-a-trillion-euros-on-energy-crisis-report.html "European governments spend half a trillion euros on energy crisis – report"). “These discussions are at a preliminary stage. We are far from announcements or a final deal,” he said. Last week, Greek [Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-queen-elizabeth-will-appoint-new-prime-minister-at-balmoral.html "Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will appoint new prime minister at Balmoral") Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that there was “progress” and a sense of “momentum” in talks with Britain to reunite the sculptures in Greece. The British Museum has always ruled out returning the marbles, which include about half of the 160-metre (525-ft) frieze that adorned the Parthenon, and insists they were legally acquired. The museum said in a statement on Monday it would not dismantle its collection “as it tells a unique story of our common humanity”. However, it said it wanted to forge a new “Parthenon Partnership” with Greece. We are seeking new positive, long-term partnerships with [countries and communities around the world](https://www.financedigest.com/richest-countries-in-the-world.html "Richest countries in the world"), and that of course includes Greece,” it said. Asked about [British Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/british-doctors-strikes-risk-patient-safety-minister-says.html "British doctors’ strikes risk patient safety, minister says") Rishi Sunak’s position on their return, a spokesman said Britain had no plans to change laws which prevent removing objects from the collection apart from in certain circumstances. “Our position on this hasn’t changed. Decisions relating to the [care and management](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-benfield-launches-managed-care-services-platform-with-the-appointment-of-three-key-executives.html "Aon Benfield launches Managed Care Services platform with the appointment of three key executives") of the collections are a matter for the museum and its trustees,” the spokesman said. Citing a British official, Greece’s ANT1 TV said on Sunday that the only way to return the sculptures to Greece without [violating British law](https://www.financedigest.com/president-trump-signs-executive-orders-on-trade-and-designates-trade-and-customs-law-violations-as-law-enforcement-high-priority.html "President Trump Signs Executive Orders on Trade and Designates Trade and Customs Law Violations as Law Enforcement “High Priority”") was “if the British Museum opened a kind of annex in Greece. In March, the United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO [urged Greece and Britain](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-urges-banks-to-offer-mortgage-flexibility-in-cost-of-living-crisis.html "Britain urges banks to offer mortgage flexibility in cost-of-living crisis") to reach a settlement on the issue. Greece stepped up its campaign for the [return of the marbles after opening](https://www.financedigest.com/andalucian-open-returns-to-costa-del-golf-as-golfers-go-in-search-of-the-perfect-pad-close-to-the-fairway.html "Andalucian Open returns to ‘Costa del Golf’ as golfers go in search of the perfect pad close to the fairway") a new museum in 2009 at the foot of the Acropolis hill that it hopes will one day house them. In May, the so-called “Fagan fragment”, a 35-by-31-cm (12-by-14-inch) piece showing the foot of the seated ancient Greek goddess Artemis, which was part of the 5th century BC temple’s eastern frieze, was permanently [returned to Athens from a museum in Italy](https://www.financedigest.com/investor-appetite-for-italy-returns.html "Investor appetite for Italy returns"). (Additional [reporting by Michael Holden and Alistair Smout in London; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Angus MacSwan)](https://www.financedigest.com/london-reclaims-place-as-preeminent-global-financial-centre-for-the-first-time-since-2013-according-to-global-regulatory-outlook-report-from-duff-phelps.html "London reclaims place as preeminent global financial centre for the first time since 2013, according to Global Regulatory Outlook report from Duff & Phelps") --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---