ATHENS – GΝUSA Staff [Photo: GANP/ Dimitrios Panagos]
Before he took office in July, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had long backed the return to Greece from the British Museum of the stolen Parthenon Marbles – “send them back no strings,” he wrote on social media.
Not any more.
He has backed off from that stance, telling the Financial Times that, “Ultimately it’s an issue for the British Museum, isn’t it?” “Legally that’s where that issue rests, but I’m all in favor of using British cultural diplomacy. That’s something that I’m hugely in favor of.”
The government is barred from intervening because a 1963 law prohibits the museum, which also displays treasures plundered from former British colonies, from handing back the marbles or other artifacts taken unlawfully.
But as far back as 2002, he supported a change in the law – but now has not made a move to introduce legislation to do so – leaving the fate of the marbles up in the air some 210 years after they were stolen by Scottish diplomat Lord Elgin.
Burnham’s position that the marbles belong to Greece – disputed by the museum which said it is the rightful owner, claiming Elgin had permission in the form of a firman from the occupying Ottoman Empire – raised hopes of a return.
The museum has offered, repeatedly, only a loan of the marbles – possibly in recurring batches – to the Acropolis Museum in a deal which would require Greece to give up ownership and send the British Museum other treasures to be displayed in the space occupied by the marbles.
That would also give the British Museum collateral, or keeping borrowed Greek artifacts hostages, until Greece returns the loaned marbles, which has been rejected by the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Burnham’s attention is focused on domestic issues during a volatile political period which saw his predecessor Keir Starmer resign under pressure, and Burnham would likely face opposition from hardliners who want the museum to keep the marbles.
Kris Tytgat, a Belgian archaeologist who is President of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures (IARPS), said before he changed his mind that she believed Burnham could bring resolution although a deal has long proved elusive, even after a new Acropolis Museum was opened in 2009.
“We just have to start negotiations again and we have to try to keep the issue in the limelight,” she told Greek News USA. “We try … by giving conferences, doing symposia, talking to newspapers – and pressure can be done by institutions like UNESCO. The situation 40 years ago was much more catastrophic.”
But after he did a 180-degree turn, she said, “The answer of Burnham is no surprise. He can hardly say something else as PM of the UK. Let’s wait and see what he is going to do in the future.”
She added that, “The British Museum Act of 1963 remains the big obstacle. Without amending this act, nothing can be achieved in my eyes,” she said, noting while Greece said it won’t agree to a loan it might to a partial return.
UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural arm, “urged Britain to cooperate on their reunification,” describing the Parthenon sculptures as “an integral part of Greek cultural heritage” and arguing they should be on permanent display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
THE FLIP FLOP
Mitsotakis had been in secret talks with British Museum Chairman George Osborne and said he wanted “reunification” of the marbles, likening the dilemma to a scenario of the Mona Lisa being torn in half.
The British Museum houses roughly half of the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, specifically comprising 15 metopes, 17 pedimental figures, and 247 feet (75 meters) of the original frieze.
The most recent survey found that 56 percent of the British public believes the treasures should be sent back and only about 22-29 percent believing they should never be returned.
Burnham’s ascension nonetheless brought speculation that he could finally be the one to make a deal – a former premier, Boris Johnson, also said he was in favor of returning them – before he took office and promptly reneged.
The New York Times said, “Past British governments have repeatedly said the issue is a matter for the British Museum, not lawmakers, while secret talks between the museum and Greece’s Prime Minister on a deal to return the artifacts are stalled … Mr. Burnham could also change his views.”
That had given Tygat caution. “Public opinion is in favor of the return … but there are quite a lot of people still negative with stupid arguments,” on social media,” she said, as well as politicians and pundits.
She said even a partial return could be welcome. “If you want to get your puzzle you try to get as many pieces as you can so that’s what they (Greece) has to do … even if we can’t get them complete.”
The British Museum isn’t budging so far and has long claimed that Elgin had permission from the Turks in the form of a firman, but has only been able to show an Italian translation of what researchers and Turkish authorities today said is not an official document.
Mitsotakis advanced the case after the former ruling Radical Left SYRIZA abandoned a legal fight that was in the hands of Amal Clooney – the British barrister wife of actor George Clooney, a champion of their return.
Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis proposed enlisting the aid of the U.S. President Donald Trump to get the marbles back, although the American leader has been scorning British political leaders.
Georgiadis said Trump “could press the British government to make the right move,” and said that, “The leader that will make this happen will be a part of the Parthenon’s story.” No word from Mitsotakis on that idea.
