British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles

A long-running dispute between Britain and Greece over ancient treasures has spilled into tensions over Brexit after a demand for the return of stolen cultural artefacts was added to the draft of a European Union negotiating mandate.

Greece will step up its campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from Britain and expects to win more support from European peers as Brexit sees British influence wane, the Greek culture minister said.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni says the British Museum must be kept under constant pressure to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Greece has confirmed its readiness to loan treasures to the British Museum in return for being able to temporarily exhibit the Parthenon marbles but also said the proposal did not alter its long-standing demand for their permanent return.

Greece has confirmed its readiness to loan treasures to the British Museum in return for being able to temporarily exhibit the Parthenon marbles but also said the proposal did not alter its long-standing demand for their permanent return.

Greek singer-songwriter Hellena performed her latest composition, "The Parthenon Marbles - Bring Them Back" in a protest at the British Museum's Room 18 on Thursday afternoon, the Athens-Macedonia News Agency (ANA-MPA) has reported.

In response to recent remarks by British Museum director Hartwig Fischer that the Parthenon Marbles will never be returned to Greece, Dame Janet Suzman, chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, insisted on Saturday they are in the wrong space and in need of the Attic light and blue skies.

The Ministry of Culture and Sports has denied a report published in Britain's Independent newspaper Tuesday that it had called for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from the British Museum as a symbolic gesture against anti-democratic forces that seek "the dissolution of Europe."

Greece is offering the British Museum unique ancient archaeological pieces in exchange for the Parthenon Marbles, reports the Independent. From the Independent:

While Greek government through Culture Minister Aristidis Baltas says that it no longer mulling legal action to get back Parthenon marbles antiquities claiming that it has slim chances winning, the UN General Assembly adopts the Resolution on “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin with express reference to the return of the Parthenon Marbles.