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Under pressure from Athens, London leaves the choice to the British Museum to decide on a restitution of the Parthenon marbles

2021-11-22T16:59:13.387Z


Greece has been asking for the return of these antiquities for two centuries. The British Prime Minister believes that it is up to the museum's management to assume their responsibilities.


Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to put pressure on his counterpart Boris Johnson over the Parthenon marbles.

Sunday, he cracked a very offensive open letter in the columns of the

Daily Mail

, in which he explains that Johnson has

"a unique opportunity to end an injustice that weighs on all Greek hearts".

Read alsoGreece relaunches its campaign for the return of the Parthenon friezes

The Parthenon marbles have been stored in the galleries of the British Museum since 1816, when the museum purchased these statues from Lord Elgin, an English diplomat. Greece has now estimated for two centuries that the former ambassador to the Ottoman Empire did not have the right to appropriate and dispose of them, denouncing the looting of exceptional heritage items. For its part, London still refuses a restitution. Boris Johnson estimated in March, in an interview with the Greek newspaper

Ta Nea,

that these parts "

were acquired legally by Lord Elgin, in accordance with the laws in force at the time

"

.

The curators of the British Museum have legally owned it since [the friezes] came into their possession.

», He clarified.

This interminable heritage conflict was on the agenda during the meeting on Tuesday, November 16 at 10 Downing Street.

As the Greek Prime Minister assures him to the

Daily Mail,

Boris Johnson would have promised, during their exchange,

“not to prevent Greece from establishing a formal dialogue with the British Museum on the future of the marbles”.

A way to kick in touch for the English Prime Minister, and to leave the fate of the Parthenon marbles in the hands of the British Museum.

This is the whole problem for the Greeks: having to rely on the goodwill of the most prestigious museum in the Kingdom of England, which made these sculptures the centerpieces of its galleries.

Manly but correct discussions

The question of ancient statues has been debated between the two countries for two hundred years, but the celebrations of the bicentenary of Greek independence have pushed the government to a more offensive strategy. "

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Greece's war for independence against the Ottoman Empire, a war in which Britain supported Greece in its struggle for freedom

," said the Greek prime minister.

What greater manifestation of the Prime Minister's vision for a new, confident, open and truly global Britain could there be, then, that his government take a bold step forward and, with the British Museum , repatriate the Parthenon sculptures?

"

Read also "The British Museum has never legitimately acquired the Parthenon marbles", says Athens

The goal for Mitsotakis is to be the one who brings the statues back to the Acropolis Museum, located in the heart of the Hellenic capital.

To secure the deal with the British government, the head of the Greek government says he is ready to make compromises.

In particular, he promises to donate some of Greece's most precious artefacts to the British Museum for exhibitions.

In a statement, the British government wants to reassure the atmosphere during the negotiations, explaining that the two men

"agreed that this issue in no way affects the strength of the partnership between the United Kingdom and Greece."

Water leaks that raises questions

In addition to this bicentenary, the Greek Prime Minister is putting particular pressure on Great Britain because of the state of the London museum.

The British Museum has indeed been permeable to water leaks for several years, creating concern for Athens.

Read also At the British Museum, water leaks threaten the Parthenon marbles

Far from being a slayer of Boris Johnson, Kyriakos Mitsotakis repeatedly salutes the man of letters and the great connoisseur of Greek history who is the British Prime Minister.

He concludes his letter to the Daily Mail by stroking his counterpart in the direction of the hair:

“I believe that the classic scholar Boris Johnson knows he has a unique opportunity to seize the moment and make this generation the one to be. will finally bring together the sculptures of the Parthenon.

Mr. Prime Minister, it is time to seize this moment. ”

Source: lefigaro

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