Greece does not recognize the jurisdiction, possession and ownership of the Parthenon statues by the British MuseumIn a statement today, the Greek Ministry of Culture said, in response to criticism of the executive branch by the leader of the main opposition party, Alexis Tsipras.
“Since the beginning of its mandate, the government has worked diligently, responsibly, sensitively and effectively towards the implementation of the national goal of returning the Parthenon sculptures to Athens and reuniting them in the Acropolis Museum. This is undoubtedly attested by a series of events in the past two years: from the decision of UNESCO in September 2021 and the final consolidation of the Fagan part, to the change of world public opinion and its support for the Greek claim. The statement indicated, according to the state news agency Safe.
We repeat again, Greece’s consistent position that it does not recognize title, freehold and ownership of the British Museum for the sculptures, as they are the product of theft. Therefore, the main opposition must stop expressing frantic enthusiasm. We hope that in this national effort, the narrow-minded party’s calculations will deviate and everyone will come together. Unfortunately, we do not see this. For some, their number one goal is to harm the government, even through lies, regardless of whether they are harming the country. This is unfortunate “.
Tsipras, leader of the left-wing Syriza party, today expressed his “extreme concern” over British media reports that Greek representatives are about to rig according to The British Museum For the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens through a “loan” and “exchange” of artifacts.
You cannot lend or exchange something that does not belong to you.stressed the left-wing leader, who asked the government for transparency regarding this sensitive issue, and noted that it was a consistent position of all Greek governments not to recognize any right to the “stolen” marble of any legal entity – such as the British Museum – nor a state other than Greek.
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“Δεν μπορείς να δανειστείς κάτι που σου ανήκει και σου το έχουν κλέψει” pic.twitter.com/MELVFapCg5– Αλέξης Τσίπρας – Alexis Tsipras (@atsipras) January 7, 2023
On the fourth of the British Gazette The telegraph He pointed out that these cultural treasures are 2,500 years old It could be returned “as soon as possible” to Greece under an alleged agreement with the British Museumwhich would lend some pieces to Athens in the long term, in return for transporting artifacts from ancient Greece to London.
🔴 The British Museum confirmed that it is in discussions with Greece about the possibility of returning the Elgin marble two centuries after it was transferred to Britain. https://t.co/oj1XDdh2jQ
Telegraph January 4, 2023
A day later, the newspaper times He also indicated a possible agreement between the parties in the form of An “indefinite loan” of sculptures to Greece “against the loan of pieces from the Acropolis Museum” in Athens.
Recreating one of the most important works of art in history is not only famous – it will enhance the Museum’s reputation ✍️ Ed Fayzi
https://t.co/6Pf4gRkCxC– The Times and Sunday Times (thetimes) January 4, 2023
Although the Greek Ministry of Culture has indicated that it does not give the British Museum any right to the Parthenon Marbles, yet The existence of alleged “loan” agreements that are not explicitly referred to or denied One of the pieces referred to by the British media.
In the early nineteenth century, the Parthenon Marbles traveled to Britain when the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Thomas Bruceknown as Lord Elgin, who identified himself as a lover of antiquities, obtained the Sultan’s permission to take part of the metopes and the interior frieze from the Parthenon.
Later, he sold them to his government for 35,000 pounds sterling, and since 1939 these jewels have been exhibited in the British Museum, while only copies are exhibited in the Acropolis Museum.
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