Athens evokes “not easy” negotiations with the British Museum on the return of the Parthenon marbles

negotiations

between Athens and the British Museum for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece

, Greek government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou admitted on Monday.

,” he said during a press briefing, without giving concrete details on their content.

The latest information from the British press, according to which the British Museum is about to finalize an agreement with the Greek authorities on the return to Athens of the friezes of the Parthenon, has caused a stir in the Greek media.

According to the

, the return to Greece of these treasures would take place within the framework of a

, which would make it possible to circumvent a British law preventing the London museum from dismantling its collection.

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A loan, for lack of a definitive return

"The objective is their definitive return"

, insisted Yiannis Oikonomou, because Greece

.

However, the negotiated agreement would be, according to the sources quoted by the

, a loan agreement so that the works return to Greece quickly.

But this

would not end the quarrel, Athens intending to continue to demand full restitution.

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Following information last week, a spokesperson for the British Museum told AFP that the museum was looking for

with Athens.

,” he added.

Athens has been calling for the return of the Parthenon friezes for decades, claiming they were

while the country was under Ottoman occupation.

But London claims the sculptures were

in 1802 by British diplomat Lord Elgin, who sold them to the British Museum.