Greece and the UK agree to hold formal talks on possible return of the Parthenon Marbles

According to a recent report by UNESCO, Greece and the United Kingdom have agreed to hold formal talks on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The potential reunification of the Parthenon marbles was announced by the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation, or ICPRCP, which opened its 23rd session in Paris this week.

READ MORE: George Vardas says Greece must ‘seize the day’ after UNESCO decision on Parthenon Sculptures.

The meeting, which was offered on April 29 by the UK, has been accepted by Greece and will be arranged “in due course.”

This news comes as Greece has recently ramped up its efforts to push for the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, where they are currently on display.

READ MORE: Australians being urged to join fight for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, raised the issue of the sculptures during a meeting with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, in London last November. 

In response, Johnson reiterated the formal position of the UK government which is that the sculptures are owned by the British Museum, which operates under a board of trustees independent from government oversight.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson rules out return of Parthenon marbles to Greece.

Since then, a number of proposals for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece have been made, including one by actor and Philhellene, Stephen Fry.

READ MORE: Stephen Fry presents proposal for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Fry has suggested 3D-printed replicas made of Pentelic marble could be given to the British Museum, while computer-generated artificial reality will be used to show visitors how the genuine pieces were returned to Athens.

There has been no word yet on whether proposals such as this will be discussed at the formal meeting.

READ MORE: British Museum faces legal action after refusing a 3D scan of Parthenon Marbles.

Source: ArtNet.