Greece managed to add a clause for the return of Parthenon Marbles into the EU-UK deal? That was a premature joy and a big disappointment two days later. Not only the clause has nothing to do with the Greek antiquities stolen by Lord Elgin, Greece distanced itself from the issue – even if with the usual “slight delay.”
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Wednesday that the clause is not linked to the Greek request for the return of the Marbles. However, Athens would keep up its campaign for the return of the 2,500-old treasures and will consider which tools could support its cause.
“Greece’s request for the return of the Parthenon marbles remains strong and it is not linked to a Brexit deal,” Petsas said, asked if the issue could be a stumbling point in talks with Britain on its future relationship with the European Union.
“We’ll continue to call for their return and if this is a tool we can use, we’ll consider it in due course,” he said.
On its part, the UK government said it will not be discussing the return of the ‘Parthenon marbles to Greece’ as part of any future trade negotiations with the EU.
Government spokeswoman firmly ruled out any prospect of discussing re-homing the sculptures during next month’s trade talks. A spokeswoman said: ‘The EU are still finalising their mandate – this is currently in draft.
‘The UK’s position on the Parthenon sculptures remains unchanged – they are the legal responsibility of the British Museum. That is not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations.’
According to an excerpt form the EU-UK trade deal document shared on social media on Tuesday evening, the EU’s latest negotiating position called for the UK and Brussels to ‘address issues relating to the return or restitution of unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin.’
So what is the clause about?
The Guardian reported that the proposition had been argued for by Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Greece, but was more to do with a desire to stop the fraudulent movement of antiquities around Europe rather than a direct reference to the marbles.
It looks as if the clause relates to antiquities from Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Iraq stolen in modern times, that is later than 1812, when Elgin looted the Acropolis of Athens.
The clause is rather designed to stop UK becoming a trafficking hub in modern age and has not to do with the antiquities stolen histrionically.
Read also: Stolen Afghan sculpture to return home after being spotted at UK auction Jan 2020
PS With this clause Greece can at lest hope for some leverage in future talks about the return of the marbles.
