British Museum

The new Labour government in Britain is leaving an open window for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens on a long-term loan scheme, as Kir Starmers seeks to strengthen his country’s ties with the European Union.

The indications that the Greek government has been receiving over the past few days regarding the potential to borrow the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum confirm the improvement Athens had anticipated on the matter following the establishment of Keir Starmer's Labour government in London.

The UK remains committed to a Cyprus peace deal "under UN parameters," but "ultimately, it is for the key parties to decide on the details of a settlement," Stephen Doughty, the newly appointed minister of state in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, told Kathimerini on the sidelines of his visit to Athens this week.

Former interim British Museum director Sir Mark Jones has proposed that the Parthenon Marbles be shared between the UK and Greece. 

Popular British actor and writer Stephen Fry has compared Lord Elgin's removal of the Parthenon sculptures from Greece to Nazi Germany stealing the Arc de Triomphe during the occupation of France.

Greece must formally recognize the UK's ownership of the Parthenon Marbles before any loan negotiations can proceed, stated Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom, on Wednesday.

It's hard to assess whether the decision to stage a fashion show in front of the Parthenon Sculptures last weekend was simply ignorant and naive, or a deliberate and provocative action by the British Museum. Either way, it was offensive to anyone who believes that the rightful owner of these ancient sculptures is Greece.

Α model on the runway at Erdem RTW Fall 2024 as part of London Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at the British Museum on Saturday.

A loan agreement between Britain and Greece over the Parthenon Marbles may be on the table after Mark Jones, the British Museum's interim director, told a British newspaper that he would support such a plan.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday repeated calls for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens from the British Museum, months after a diplomatic spat with Britain over the 2,500-year-old pieces.