Official announcements by the British Museum or the Greek government, reported by reputable news outlets

Starmer Signals UK Won't Block Return of Parthenon Marbles, Greece Optimistic

Dec 3, 2024, 12:20 PM

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled to his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, that the UK government would not block a potential deal to return the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to Greece. This indication came during a meeting at Downing Street, where the issue of the Marbles was discussed. Mitsotakis welcomed the UK's position, expressing satisfaction that Starmer would not obstruct an agreement between Athens and the British Museum. The Marbles, held at the British Museum since 1816, have been a long-standing point of contention between Greece and the UK. The British government has stated that the matter is for the British Museum to decide, while Greek sources indicate that negotiations for their return are well advanced. Greece remains optimistic about securing the return of the Marbles.