Foreign Office was dismissive of the museum's attempts to lobby for the contested sculptures in 1983

Greek minister says move gives restitution discussions with British Museum "momentum"

"I think there is a way forward where the sculptures could be seen both in London and in Athens, and that will be a win-win for Greece and for us,” George Osborne says

The Greek prime minister has pledged to repatriate the 2,500-year-old sculptures if re-elected

The pope’s decision to give the Vatican’s three Parthenon marbles to the head of the Greek Orthodox Church comes amid mounting pressure on the British Museum to repatriate its marbles to Greece

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In speech at the annual trustees dinner George Osborne said that "dismantling" the collection "must not become the careless act of a single generation”

The decision to prioritise the revamp of the museum’s Greek and Assyrian displays comes amid escalating calls for the permanent return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens

Move rebuffs George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, who proposed a new collaborative arrangement

Pandermalis, a revered archaeologist and professor, had also been outspoken in calling for the reunification of all the Parthenon marbles in Athens

The artefacts could be exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before traveling to Athens

While my past purchases are lined up for a professional clean, it is the current damage of international cultural relations that seem most in need of a fix

Officials will loan the ancient sculptures only if they are returned to London

Project by Oxford’s Institute for Digital Archaeology fuels debate about restitution of controversial sculptures

"The arguments against their return to Greece are no longer tenable," argues art historian and museum professional Eleni Vassilika

"Let’s choose, following Aristotle, historical truth over an emotive friendship," says classical archaeologist Mario Trabucco della Torretta

Clamour grows for reunification as Acropolis Museum in Athens marks 13th anniversary

The comments from the former chancellor signals dramatic shift in museum’s policy and attitude ahead of planned protests this weekend

The UN says it has facilitated a meeting for British officials to discuss restitution with the Greek minister of culture, but Britain denies this

The full story of colonial plundering lies not in museum displays but in unopened, uncatalogued boxes in store rooms

Acropolis Museum director says the move could pave the way for reunification of works held in London

In podcast interview, Ed Vaizey supports restitution but outlines the complex arguments around the debate

Newly released documents from the 1990s state: "This is an issue on which we can never win"

The British Prime Minister met with Greek leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who reiterates that the ancient sculptures should be shown at the Acropolis Museum

Kyriakos Mitsotakis wants to send ‘cultural treasures’ in exchange for ‘stolen’ sculptures

The poor condition of the London museum’s Greek and Assyrian galleries—with roofs in disrepair causing long closures—is adding to calls for the restitution of the contested works

The actor first stated that the Ancient Greek sculptures should be returned to their site of origin in 2014 after filming The Monuments Men

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But the clause is unlikely to refer to the ancient Greek sculptures in the British Museum, expert says