Britain Won’t Return Ancient Sculptures
In an interview published in the Athens daily To Vima, British Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected demands by Greece for the return of ancient sculptures removed from the Parthenon two centuries ago.
Known as the Elgin Marbles, the sculptures that decorated the Parthenon were taken by British envoy Lord Elgin in 1812 and are housed in the British Museum.
Athens is pressing for their return by 2004, when the city will host the Olympic Games, and is planning to build a museum in the center of the capital to house them.
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