Greece may demand return of historic statues from Britain as part of Brexit deal
The Parthenon Marbles, a collection of stone objects, inscriptions and sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are displayed at the British Museum in London. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:13 AM PT — Wednesday, February 19, 2020
The European Union may force Britain to return ancient statues to Greece as part of the Brexit deal proposal. According to recent reports, the EU has added a clause to their proposed deal that would force the U.K. to return or restore cultural objects that were illegally taken from other country.
The clause was added at Greece’s request and may reference a long-standing disagreement between the two countries over a set of marble statues taken from the country in the 19th Century.
On Feb 8 there was a large overnight demonstration in the British Museum: "Turn back the stolen treasures”. We are pleased that campaigners including @BCRPM highlighted the need to return the #ParthenonMarbles pic.twitter.com/bafupXHhG8
— Australian Committee (@MarblesReunite) February 11, 2020
Last month, Greek Minister for Culture Lina Mendoni implied the country may increase pressure on Britain to return the statues. She made the following comments regarding the matter:
“I believe that the circumstances for Greece are good at the moment. It is the mentality that has changed, (it is) the fact that Britain is distancing itself from the European family. It is the 200 years since the Greek revolution. I think the right conditions have been created for their permanent return.”
A spokesman for Greece said the clause does not refer specifically to the Elgin marbles, but to the general issue of art theft.