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George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, is optimistic that a historic cultural swap agreement with Greece involving the Parthenon Sculptures can still be achieved, despite the recent thefts at the museum. According to insiders, Osborne and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have discussed a unique plan in which some of the sculptures will be loaned to Athens in exchange for Greek treasures being loaned to London as “collateral”.
While Mitsotakis insists on the complete return of the Elgin Marbles to Athens rather than temporary loans, both sides describe the ongoing discussions as “constructive”. The recent thefts at the British Museum, which led to the appearance of stolen artifacts on eBay, drew criticism from Greek officials. However, Osborne is confident that Mitsotakis, who is personally handling the negotiations, has refrained from attacking the museum.
One British Museum source stated, “The lack of criticism speaks volumes. The Greek government has shown remarkable restraint.” Another insider interpreted this as a sign that Athens believes a deal is within reach.
Osborne’s proposal involves a series of loan agreements for the marbles that were removed from the Acropolis by Lord Elgin in the 19th century, aimed at building trust gradually. The plan, still under discussion, includes the British Museum shipping approximately one-third or more of the marbles to Athens for a specified period of time.
Known as the “Parthenon Partnership,” the plan includes Greece sending previously unseen treasures to London, which would become the centerpiece of major exhibitions at the British Museum. Mitsotakis, in a conversation with Osborne in late 2022, expressed his desire for the frieze to be permanently returned as a whole, rather than in sections. Nevertheless, both sides remain hopeful that a deal can be reached. Mitsotakis stated in January that if the Greek people express their trust, repatriation of the marbles could be achieved after the elections.
A Greek government official remarked, “While we are shocked by the extent of the thefts at the British Museum, we continue to advocate for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece.” The official emphasized the separation of these issues from their campaign for the sculptures’ repatriation.
A spokesperson for the British Museum expressed support for a long-term partnership that balances sharing their collection with global audiences and preserving the integrity of the museum’s remarkable holdings.
Lord Ed Vaizey, a former UK culture minister leading the campaign for the marbles’ return to the Acropolis, believes that the current climate is more favorable for a deal than it has been in the past two centuries. He remarked, “The British Museum has a forward-thinking chair, the Greek Prime Minister has a majority and a full term, and the future direction of the UK government will be clearer in 18 months.”
Osborne, in response to the escalating theft crisis, has committed to expediting the completion of a comprehensive record of all the objects in the museum’s collection. He admitted that as many as 2,000 items have been stolen or lost, and the museum failed to act on warnings in 2021 about items appearing for sale online. However, he denied the presence of a cover-up.
Osborne also confirmed that the British Museum lacks a complete inventory of its collection but pledged to accelerate this process. Meanwhile, Hartwig Fischer, the museum’s director, resigned, acknowledging the severe situation the institution is facing due to the theft of its artifacts.
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