Elgin Marbles: UK-Greece deal on Parthenon Sculptures 'close'

Sir Keir Starmer met the Greek PM for talks at Downing Street - but it was not clear if the issue was discussed.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersParthenon Sculptures deal 'close', ex-Greek official saysEPAA deal that could see the Parthenon Sculptures returned to Greece is "close", a former adviser to the country's government has told the BBC.

Prof Irene Stamatoudi said it "seems negotiations have gone forward" over relocating the antiquities - also known as the Elgin Marbles - which were taken from Athens more than 200 years ago and are displayed in the British Museum.

It came as Sir Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart met for talks in Downing Street on Tuesday, though No 10 has said the issue is not on the agenda.

An official account of the meeting released by Downing Street made no mention of the issue being discussed, though Greek's public broadcaster ERT claimed it had been.

The meeting comes amid reports that talks over a deal which would see the statues moved to Athens have recently progressed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8y97x8xm0o

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