[MSN] Greece 'satisfied' with Getty Museum's decision to return stolen antiquities.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Posted on Tue, Jul. 11, 2006

Greece 'satisfied' with Getty Museum's decision to return stolen antiquities
By Nicholas Paphitis
The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece -- The J. Paul Getty Museum has agreed to return two ancient
sculptures at the center of a major cultural heritage dispute with Greece,
officials said.

Greek Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis said he was "extremely satisfied"
with the decision, and voiced optimism similar moves would follow from the
Getty and other international museums.

Voulgarakis said the private U.S. museum in Los Angeles will return a
sixth-century B.C. votive relief from the island of Thassos and a
fourth-century B.C. carved tombstone from near Thebes, an antiquities-rich
town about 55 miles northwest of Athens. He did not say when the artifacts
would arrive in Greece.

In a joint statement with Getty officials, Voulgarakis said negotiations
would continue on the return of two other ancient masterpieces Greece claims
were illegally excavated and smuggled out of the country.

"The decision to return the two ancient artifacts to Greece was based on a
thorough investigation carried out by the Getty Museum, which concluded that
it would be right to return the works," the statement said.

Voulgarakis was unable to provide an estimate of the sculptures' market
value.

The statement said talks between Greece and the Getty -- to be concluded by
late August -- would focus on a fourth-century B.C. golden wreath and a
sixth-century B.C. statue in the museum's collections, "as well as the
long-term loan of Greek antiquities to the J. Paul Getty Museum."

During a May 16 visit to Athens, Getty director Michael Brand agreed to
recommend to the museum's board of trustees the return of "some" of the
antiquities.

This followed intense pressure from Greek authorities, who said they were
able to prove the works were looted. Greek law stipulates that all
antiquities found in the country are state property.

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