{
  "id": 9663639,
  "title": "Greek PM Urges Britain to Revive Talks Over Parthenon Sculptures",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/greek-pm-urges-britain-to-revive-talks-over-parthenon-sculptures",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T00:20:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/24/greek-pm-urges-britain-revive-parthenon-sculptures/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on Britain to rekindle discussions regarding the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, following reports that existing negotiations have hit a dead end. In an opinion piece published in The Guardian on Thursday, Mitsotakis highlighted that a resolution might still be achievable through \"political will and courage.\" However, he firmly rejected any agreement that would necessitate Greece's recognition of the British Museum's ownership or a loan arrangement for the sculptures. This reaction came in response to The Daily Telegraph's report on Wednesday, which stated that talks had effectively stalled, with no current negotiations in progress and Athens not anticipating their resumption in the near future.\n\nThe British Museum, on the other hand, has persistently maintained its stance that its position has not altered, and it remains open to a negotiated solution. The museum asserts that its trustees can lend the sculptures under specific conditions, including the acknowledgment of the institution's ownership. In contrast, Greece adamantly opposes this condition and seeks the permanent reunification of the sculptures in Athens. Mitsotakis dismissed the Baieux Tapestry as a model for the Parthenon Sculptures, emphasizing that the Bayeux Tapestry remains an intact object that will return to France, whereas the Parthenon Sculptures are fragmented elements of an ancient monument, with some elements presently housed in Athens and others in London.\n\nMitsotakis emphasized that Greece's ultimate goal remains the permanent reunification of the sculptures in Athens, where the Acropolis Museum was intended to display them in proximity to the Parthenon. The Greek government reinitiated direct dialogues with the British Museum in 2021, following several decades of diplomatic efforts to secure the sculptures' return. Mitsotakis noted that his administration had engaged in exhaustive discussions with the museum's leadership over the years.\n\nThe core of the conflict pertains to the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, between 1801 and 1805. The British Museum contends that Elgin obtained approval from Ottoman authorities for the removal and that Parliament legally acquired the collection in 1816. Greece, however, contests the legitimacy of the removal and has persistently demanded the sculptures' return, formally requesting their permanent restitution in 1983. Since then, the issue has been raised through various international forums, including UNESCO, and Athens established the Acropolis Museum in 2009, providing a dedicated venue for the sculptures. Despite this, both parties remain divided over ownership and the legal framework governing the sculptures.",
  "summary": "Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged Britain to revive negotiations over the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, after reports that talks with the British Museum have reached an impasse. Mitsotakis wrote Thursday in The Guardian that a deal could still be reached through “political will and courage.” However, he rejected any agreement […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}