Clear position in favor of the repatriation of Sculptors of the Parthenon Lord Frost, former head of the British side in the Brexit negotiations and a leading representative of the most conservative wing of the ruling Tory party, took with his article in the Daily Telegraph.
As the British diplomat and politician who has been described as “the most genuine supporter of Brexit” writes, he believes that the British side’s legal arguments in favor of keeping the Sculptures are sound, despite the “slightly murky” nature of Elgin’s deeds. But he was never convinced of the “moral, artistic and cultural arguments”.
He emphasizes that he shares the opinion that the Parthenon Sculptures constitute a “special situation in which we must try to find a special solution”.
After talking about creations that were intended for a specific monument and for a specific cultural and religious background, he notes: “As long as they are not exhibited as a unit, they fall short of the sum of the parts that make them up”.
He then mentions that he was taught Greek in Greece and has lived in Cyprus and therefore can see the arguments from a Greek perspective. For the British, he continues, the Sculptures are just an exhibit, albeit an important one. “For Greece it is part of its national identity and a national cultural goal”he adds.
In light of this, he states that he understands the efforts of the president of the British Museum, George Osborne, to find a solution. However, he considers that it is not right that this should be done exclusively by him and the British Museum, much more so with “secret” talks.
Lord Frost is generally in favor of the 1963 Act which prohibits the permanent removal of objects from the British Museum and states that the museum can enter into a loan agreement. However, he recognizes that a “loan” to be accepted by the Greeks should have a long range, with terms that should also satisfy the British national interest. Therefore, he concludes, the British government should be involved in the talks.
“My view is that it’s time for a big gesture. Only the government can do it. It is to offer to return the marbles as a one-off gift from this country to Greece, as part of a new wider Anglo-Greek partnership.”is Lord Frost’s suggestion.
He even lists the three elements that should govern this cooperation. Initially the cooperation of the museums, with high-quality replicas of the Sculptors staying in London plus an agreement to loan some of the most famous antiquities from Greece, temporarily, in exchange and perhaps to museums outside London.
Secondly, a wider cultural collaboration, possibly with private funding, which will raise the academic as well as artistic partnership of the two countries to another level.
And third, a joint Greek-British campaign to return to Athens the Parthenon Sculptures held by all the other museums of the world.
Such cooperation, writes Lord Frost, should put the dispute over the acquisition of the Sculptures to rest once and for all, and should make it clear that it does not set a precedent for requests to restore other exhibits. With such a solution, the article concludes, Britain would, among other things, show in practice that it means the characterization of the Sculptors as part of our common Western heritage, but also show what kind of country it aspires to be, interested in its reputation and its culture. . “Let’s rise to the occasion and make a deal”closes Lord Frost.
Source: News Beast
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