Elgin Marbles ‘matter for British Museum’, No 10 says – as Starmer and Greek PM meet | UK News

Downing Avenue has stated the way forward for the Elgin Marbles is a matter for the British Museum, as Sir Keir Starmer met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

However there was no point out of the traditional Parthenon sculptures in the course of the assembly.

It comes as The Occasions reported the assembly between the 2 leaders was organised as a result of progress in negotiations for a possible deal that might see the sculptures returned to Greece.

However Downing Avenue insisted discussions in regards to the marbles weren’t on Sir Keir‘s assembly agenda.

It stated the federal government had “no plans to vary the legislation that will allow a everlasting transfer and that the case of selections regarding the care and administration and sculptures are a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, which is operationally impartial of the federal government”.

Requested if it will be doable to mortgage the Elgin Marbles to Athens, the spokesman stated: “These choices are completely for the British Museum.”

Discussions a couple of cultural “Parthenon Partnership” are “ongoing and constructive”, in keeping with the museum.

The partnership would seemingly be on the coronary heart of a deal between the museum and the Greek authorities, which may see the sculptures returned to Athens in alternate for exhibitions of well-known artworks.

A spokesperson for the British Museum added: “We consider that this sort of long-term partnership would strike the appropriate stability between sharing our best objects with audiences around the globe, and sustaining the integrity of the unimaginable assortment we maintain on the museum.”

Tuesday’s go to was the primary the Greek chief has made to the UK since a diplomatic row was sparked beneath the earlier authorities.

Learn extra:
What are the Elgin Marbles and the way did they find yourself in Britain?

Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak cancelled a gathering with Mr Mitsotakis, who had pushed for the sculptures’ return.

Mr Sunak denied having thrown a “hissy match” over the matter and accused his counterpart of grandstanding.

Mr Mitsotakis had in contrast splitting the Elgin Marbles from these nonetheless in Athens to chopping the Mona Lisa in half.

Greece has lengthy maintained that the Elgin Marbles had been illegally faraway from their place excessive atop Athens’ acropolis throughout a interval of international occupation.

The marble statues got here from friezes on the two,500-year-old Parthenon temple and have been displayed on the British Museum for greater than 200 years.

They had been eliminated by Lord Elgin within the early nineteenth century when he was British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

Actor Stephen Fry advised Sky Information the marbles “belong in Athens”, and he insists that will be a win-win for each international locations concerned.

“Pleasure on either side will likely be elevated,” he advised Kay Burley.

“Clearly for the Greeks to have the unification of those fantastically sacred items, and for Britain our status – it is going to improve it.

“We’ll be seen to have achieved one thing relatively stylish.”

However shadow tradition minister Saqib Bhatti added: “The marbles are protected by an act of Parliament – the PM must be clear that he is not going to enable the legislation to be modified and block any authorized work round that could be devised to permit them to be taken out of this nation.

“The prime minister must be standing up for Britain, our heritage, and our world-class cultural establishments as an alternative of giving in to strain from campaigners who detest British historical past.”