ATHENS, Greece (AP) 鈥 One of the world鈥檚 most intractable cultural disputes is back in the spotlight after a Turkish official cast doubt on the existence of proof long cited by Britain that it had legally acquired the Parthenon Marbles, 2,500-year-old sculptures taken from the Acropolis in Athens.
Greece's culture minister said the comments made at a UNESCO meeting in Paris last week on the return of cultural property bolster Greece's argument that the sculptures were illegally removed from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis and should be returned.
The antiquities, also known as the Elgin Marbles, were removed in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin, Britain's ambassador to the Ottoman Empire which ruled Greece at the time, and are in London. Greece has long campaigned for their return.
The museum maintains Elgin removed the sculptures legally after Ottoman authorities granted him an imperial edict, or 鈥渇irman,鈥 allowing him do so.
But Zeynep Boz, the head of the Turkish Culture Ministry鈥檚 anti-smuggling committee, said at a meeting of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property in Paris that no such document has been found.
As the successor to the Ottoman Empire, "Turkey is the country that would have the archived document pertaining to things that were sold legally at that time,鈥 Boz told The Associated Press Wednesday. 鈥淗istorians have for years searched the Ottoman archives and have not been able to find a 鈥榝irman鈥 proving that the sale was legal, as it is being claimed.鈥
Boz added she felt obliged to intervene during the UNESCO meeting after a British participant said in his speech that the Elgin Marbles were bought legally during the Ottoman era.
鈥淭o have remained silent would have amounted to acknowledging the British claim,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 had to say: 鈥榃e are not aware of such a document鈥.鈥
The only known existing document referring to the imperial edict is an Italian translation.
However, Boz said it has 鈥渘o signature, no stamp, no tughra (official seal of the sultan). Nothing to make it official. The document it allegedly refers to is nowhere to be found.鈥
While ties between Greece and Turkey are often strained and the two countries are at odds over a wide series of issues, including territorial claims, both seek the return of cultural artifacts removed from their territories and currently housed in museums around the world.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the comments bolstered Greece鈥檚 argument that Elgin illegally removed the sculptures.
鈥淭here never was an Ottoman 鈥榝irman鈥 granting Elgin the permission to treat the Parthenon Sculptures with the brutality with which he did,鈥 Mendoni said Tuesday. 鈥淭urkey鈥檚 representative (at the UNESCO meeting) confirmed what the Greek side has been arguing for years. That there was no 鈥榝irman鈥.鈥
Mendoni said Greece remained 鈥渙pen to dialogue鈥 and would continue its efforts for the return of the sculptures, which have a place set aside for them in the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
While the British Museum is banned by law from permanently returning the sculptures, its leaders have held talks in the recent past with Greek officials that could see the sculptures displayed in both Athens and London.
Those efforts suffered a setback last November, when a diplomatic spat erupted over the marbles and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak abruptly canceled a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart,
Asked about Boz's comments, the British Museum referred to a statement it gave to the UNESCO meeting reiterating its desire for a 鈥淧arthenon partnership鈥 to resolve the dispute, and said it had nothing more to add.
鈥淭he British Museum recognizes the strong desire of Greece for the Parthenon Sculptures in London to be returned to Athens,鈥 the statement said. 鈥淭his is a question with a very long history, and we understand and respect the strong feelings that this debate commands."
It said it was 鈥渒een to develop a new relationship with Greece 鈥 a 鈥楶arthenon partnership鈥 鈥 and to explore the possibility of innovative ways of working (with our Greek friends) in the hope that understanding of the Parthenon Sculptures deepens and continues to inspire people across the world.鈥
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Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
