British Museum

A long-running dispute between Britain and Greece over ancient treasures has spilled into tensions over Brexit after a demand for the return of stolen cultural artefacts was added to the draft of a European Union negotiating mandate.

The European Union has hardened its stance ahead of negotiations on a new deal with Britain, which left the bloc at the end of last month, demanding fair competition guarantees that would "stand the test of time", according to a document seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Greece will step up its campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from Britain and expects to win more support from European peers as Brexit sees British influence wane, the Greek culture minister said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed solidarity with Greece on the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles during his visit to the Acropolis Museum on Tuesday morning, which wrapped up his official two-day visit to Athens.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni says the British Museum must be kept under constant pressure to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Greek Culture Minister Leda Mendoni on Wednesday reacted to a report on the Cretapost.gr news site based on a series of photographs taken by a group of Cretan tourists on a recent visit to the exhibit of the Parthenon marbles at the British Museum in London.

Greece has confirmed its readiness to loan treasures to the British Museum in return for being able to temporarily exhibit the Parthenon marbles but also said the proposal did not alter its long-standing demand for their permanent return.

Greece has confirmed its readiness to loan treasures to the British Museum in return for being able to temporarily exhibit the Parthenon marbles but also said the proposal did not alter its long-standing demand for their permanent return.

Greece is preparing a formal request to borrow the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum for the 2021 celebrations of Greece's 200-year independence from Turkish rule, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said Tuesday.

Greece is preparing a formal request to borrow the British Museum's sculptures removed more than 200 years ago from the ancient Parthenon temple on Athens' Acropolis.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni says her ministry is drafting a proposal for the loan, which would coincide with the 2021 bicentennial of the revolution that led to the formation of the modern Greek state.