Professor Stamatoudi, who advised Greece’s culture minister during the previous talks on the Elgin Marbles, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that she believed a “deal was close” but was not sure it was “close enough”.
She said the Greek government had proposed a “cultural, strategic partnership” that would see other antiquities sent to the British Museum to fill the gallery that would be left vacant after the return.
Professor Stamatoudi said negotiations over what might be sent to the British Museum were “confidential”, adding that while she was not personally involved in this round of talks, she believed it would affect “antiquities that attract public attention”.
Prof Statamoudi said securing the return was something “all Greeks are passionate about” as the antiquities are widely considered part of the country’s “cultural heritage”.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made securing the return of the Elgin Marbles a political priority.
The issue sparked a diplomatic spat last year when then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a planned meeting with Mitsotakis after he said he would use it to raise the issue.
The previous government said that the sculptures should remain in the museum. In opposition, Labor believed they would not stand in the way of a loan agreement between the British Museum and Athens if it was agreed.
Government sources in Athens have told Greek media that Mitsotakis wants to “pick up a thread” with Starmer following a meeting between the pair in November 2023.
Earlier this week, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Mitsotakis would raise the issue again with Starmer, but that it was more a matter for the British Museum than the government.
He also refused a Sky News report, external that there were three private meetings between senior Greek officials and members of the British Museum’s board of directors.
Downing Street said Starmer told the Greek prime minister he hoped to “build on our strong bilateral relationship and talk about our shared challenges”, while Mitsotakis said Greece and Britain would strengthen their relationship in “troubled times”. .
