The UK Department for Culture is holding talks on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures outside of official UNESCO meetings, British Under Secretary for Culture Stuart Andrews said.
The Deputy Minister was invited by the Conservative Member of Parliament for North London, Dr. Matthew Offord to present if and what talks the Ministry has had in the last two years with the British Museum, with the entrepreneur and founder of the Parthenon Project organization Yiannis Lefa and with other involved parties.
Mr. Stewart responded that "the only discussions the Department has had on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures occur within official meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee to Promote the Return of Cultural Property to UNESCO, the last of which involved government officials being of May 2022".
He also clarified that there has been no discussion with Mr Lefa or other external parties involved.
As for the British Museum, Mr Andrews reiterated the argument that the trustees are the rightful owners of the Sculptures and operate independently of the government.
He reminded that the law prohibits the British Museum from permanently removing objects from its collection, and that there is no plan to change the law.
Source: KYPE