The debate on the possible return to Greece of the Parthenon friezes, exhibited at the British Museum in London, “is not closed”, assured the Greek Minister of Culture on Friday despite a plea of inadmissibility from her British counterpart.
"The debate on the question is not closed (...) there is communication,"
said Lina Mendoni during an interview on private radio Skai.
“The negotiation is very difficult, but it is not impossible”.
On Wednesday, British Culture Minister Michele Donelan told the BBC about this thorny issue at the heart of tensions between London and Athens:
"I was very clear about it: I don't think they should go back. in Greece".
The debate on the issue has recently been revived by articles in the British press about a return to Greece of its treasures under a long-term loan, a "cultural exchange", which would circumvent a British law preventing the London museum to dismantle its collection.
For decades, Greece has been asking for the return of a 75-meter frieze detached from the Parthenon as well as one of the famous caryatids from the Erechtheion, a small ancient temple also on the rock of the Acropolis, both key pieces of the British Museum.
Highly sensitive subject in Greece
London claims the sculptures were
“legally acquired”
in 1802 by British diplomat Lord Elgin who sold them to the British Museum.
But Greece maintains that they were the object of "looting" while the country was under Ottoman occupation.
The restitution of the Parthenon friezes is a highly sensitive subject in Greece.
In the Acropolis Museum, a space left empty is reserved for this frieze.
"I understand that the British Minister of Culture is currently transmitting the official position of her country, but the Greek side will continue to put pressure (...) to demand the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens",
underlined Lina Mendoni .
