“The Parthenon Sculptures belong to us and should not be returned to Greece” says the British Minister of Culture

The Parthenon sculptures “they belong here in the United Kingdom” and should not be returned to Greece, British Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said today, citing a series of recent publications in foreign and Greek media about a possible deal for their return.

Some reports have suggested that the chairman of the British Museum and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, is close to reaching a deal with Greece.

However, the minister emphasized today on BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show that the final return of the Sculptors “that is not Osborne’s intention.”

In her interview – where she was placed on a series of other issues – Donelan stressed that sending the Sculptors to Greece would “open Pandora’s Box” and would be a “dangerous road to walk”.

It would “open the door to this issue of the whole content of our museums,” he said.

The British Museum forbids by law the final return of the Sculptures to Greece. But there has been speculation that a deal could involve the Sculptures being returned to Athens on a revolving loan, in exchange for classical objects that have never left Greece.

The BBC pointed out that Ms Donnellan’s claim that she will not change the law, which is moving “in the right direction”, will be met with “the wrath of Athens and beyond”.

The minister said she had “many conversations” with George Osborne. “I think his take on it was misconstrued and certainly misrepresented,” he said.

“He’s not going to send them back, basically. That is not his intention. He has no desire to do so. The idea of ​​a 100-year loan has also been discussed, which is certainly not what he plans. He would agree with me that we shouldn’t send them back, and in fact they belong here in the UK, where we look after them for a long time, where we allow access to them.’