UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to protect the Parthenon Marbles from being sent back to Greece, saying they remain a “huge asset” to the UK, the Guardian reports on Monday, according to greekreporter.com.
In spite of a campaign to return the marble sculptures to Athens, and talks between officials in the UK and Greece about the idea, it was given short shrift by Sunak as he headed to a major defense and security summit in California.
“The UK has cared for the Elgin marbles for generations,” Sunak noted, according to the Guardian. “Our galleries and museums are funded by taxpayers because they are a huge asset to this country.
“We share their treasures with the world, and the world comes to the UK to see them. The collection of the British Museum is protected by law, and we have no plans to change it.”
While decisions about the care and management of specific collections are treated as a matter for the British Museum, Downing Street believes that a long-term loan would not be in the spirit of the government’s position, the British newspaper says.
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