The UK-Greece deal for the Parthenon sculptures has been closed

A deal to return the Parthenon sculptures to Greece is “close”, a former adviser to the country’s government has told the BBC.

Professor Irene Stamatoudi said “negotiations appear to have moved forward” over the relocation of the antiquities, also known as the Elgin Balls, which were taken from Athens more than 200 years ago and are on display at the British Museum.

It came as Sir Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart met in Downing Street on Tuesday for talks, although it is unclear whether the Elgin marble was discussed.

The official account of the meeting published by Number 10 did not mention it, although Greek public broadcaster ERT claimed it was discussed in the talks.

A Downing Street spokesman declined to be drawn on whether or not it had been discussed, saying only: “It is understandable that the Greek Prime Minister would have raised many issues, but … their discussion focused on areas of joint cooperation.”

The meeting comes as talks on a deal to move the statues to Athens are reported to have progressed recently.

The status of the sculptures has been a source of diplomatic tension between the UK and Greece for decades.

Greece say they are stolen but the British Museum rejects this and says they were obtained legally. Talks between Greece and the museum continues since 2021.

Professor Stamatoudi, who advised Greece’s culture minister in previous talks on the Elgin Marbles, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that she believed a “deal was close” but was not sure if it was “close enough”.

She said the Greek government had proposed a “cultural, strategic partnership” that would involve sending other antiquities to the British Museum to fill a gallery that would be empty upon return.

Talks about what might be sent to the British Museum are “confidential”, Professor Stamatoudi said, adding that while she was not personally involved in the round of talks, she believed they would include “antiquities that attract public attention”.

Professor Stathamudi said ensuring the return was something “all Greeks are passionate about” as the antiquities were widely considered part of the country’s “cultural heritage”.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made securing the return of the Elgin Marbles a political priority.

The issue sparked a diplomatic spat last year when then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a planned meeting with Mitsotakis after he indicated he would use it to raise the issue.

The previous government said the sculptures should remain in the museum. In opposition, Labor felt they would not interfere with a loan agreement between the British Museum and Athens if one was arranged.

Government sources in Athens have told Greek media that Mitsotakis wants to “pick a thread” with Starmer. after the couple met in November 2023.

Earlier this week, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Mitsotakis would discuss the issue again with Starmer, but that it was more a matter for the British Museum than the government.

He also denied a Sky News report that there have been three private meetings between senior Greek officials and members of the Board of Directors of the British Museum.

Asked if they had discussed the possible return of the balls, Starmer’s official spokesman said: “The Government’s position is that we have no intention of changing the law to allow permanent movement and that decisions relating to the care and management of the sculptures are a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, who is functionally independent of the government.”

Downing Street also said the government had not been asked by the British Museum to consider any return proposals.

Starmer is believed to be more open to moving the statues than his predecessor, as long as an agreement can be reached between the Greek government and the British Museum.

The Elgin marbles were made in the 5th century BC and were originally displayed in the Parthenon in Athens. They are considered one of the most valuable antiquities of Ancient Greece.

Removed by British aristocrat Lord Elgin while Athens was part of the Ottoman Empire, they were badly damaged en route to London, where they have been on display ever since.

The law, called the British Museums Act 1963, prevents items from being removed from the British Museum’s collection.

The trustees of the British Museum are exploring the possibility of entering into a special loan arrangement with Greece.

But the Greek government has previously said it would not agree to the loan because it would recognize the British Museum’s ownership of the sculptures.