Further coverage of the Greek government’s response [1] to the article in The Times that claimed that they were no longer claiming ownership [2] of the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum.
From:
Greek Reporter [3]
Ministry denies reviewing position on Parthenon artifacts
Posted on 07 December 2010 by Apostolos PapapostolouThe Culture Ministry yesterday rebuffed a report in the Times newspaper suggesting that Minister Pavlos Geroulanos had offered to forgo its claims to the Parthenon Marbles, which are on display at the British Museum, in return for a long-term loan of the artifacts. Sources at the ministry told Skai that the government has not changed its position regarding its demand for the return of the Marbles. The museum said it had not been informed of any official proposal by the Greek government adding that Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos never referred to the issue of the marbles’ ownership in his meeting with a reporter of the British newspaper “The Times.”
From:
Athens News Agency [4]
12/07/2010
Parthenon marbles returnANA-Mpa/A spokesman of the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s press office said in a statement to the ANA-MPA on Monday that “the permanent return of the Parthenon marbles to the new Acropolis Museum remains the steadfast demand of the Greek state and of the Culture Ministry. Moreover, Greece is prepared to offer the British Museum classic masterpieces of the country for periodical exhibitions,” adding that Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos never referred to the issue of the marbles’ ownership in his meeting with a reporter of the British newspaper “The Times.”ana-mpa
The spokesman was referring to a report appearing in the newspaper “that “Greece is trying to break decades of stalemate with Britain over the Elgin Marbles by dropping its long-standing claim to ownership of the sculptures in return for the British Museum sending the Acropolis artifacts back to Athens on a long-term loan.”