Chinanews.com, March 13th. According to Euronet quoted the Greek Eurolink News Agency on the 13th, British Prime Minister Johnson stated a few days ago that he refused to return the Parthenon sculpture to Greece.

He believes that these artifacts are "legally owned by the British Museum."

This is the first public statement on this issue since Johnson became British Prime Minister.

Data map: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

  According to reports, Johnson said in an interview with Greek media that he understands the strong feelings of the Greek people and Prime Minister Mizotakis (for the Parthenon sculpture), but the British government has always been firm on the issue of these sculptures. Position, because they were legally purchased by the Earl of Elgin according to the laws of the time, and have been legally owned by the trustee of the British Museum since they were purchased.

  In 1801, the British ambassador to Constantinople, Earl Elgin, removed the stone sculpture from the Parthenon sculpture and transported it away.

These stone sculptures are mainly collected in the British Museum, some of the sculptures are collected in the Louvre in Paris, Copenhagen, Denmark and other places. Most of the remaining sculptures are still collected in the Acropolis Museum, and a few sculptures can still be found in the temple. Seen on the temple body.

  Greece began asking for the return of cultural relics about 30 years ago, but the British government has always refused and claimed that the Parthenon sculptures were not looted by war, but obtained legally.

  June 20, 2020 is the 11th anniversary of the completion of the Acropolis Museum. On the same day, the Greek government once again urged Britain to return the Parthenon sculptures.

Greek Minister of Culture Menzoni stated that the Greek authorities will never give up the claim for cultural relics because these sculptures are "stolen goods."

  Menzoni said that since the start of construction of the new Acropolis Museum in September 2003, Greece has been asking the British Museum to return the sculptures.

She said that according to many polls, the British people also believe that the sculpture should be returned to Greece.

(Liang Manyu)