Greeks snub UK museum in marbles row

The British Museum's newly covered Great Court

LONDON, England -- Greece's ambassador to the UK has turned down an invitation to a dinner marking the British Museum's £100 million redevelopment in an ongoing row over one of the institution's flagship exhibits.

Alexandros Sandis declined the invitation because a gallery which houses classical sculptures removed from Greece and brought to the UK in the 19th century is being used for the dinner -- which is to be attended by the UK's Queen Elizabeth II.

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The collection of marbles -- known in Britain as the Elgin marbles and to the Greeks as the Parthenon marbles -- were taken from the Parthenon temple in Athens, and their return has long been sought by the Greek government.

A spokeswoman for the embassy said the Greek government, which is pressing for the return of the marbles ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics, has previously expressed concern over the use of the Duveen Gallery for entertaining.

"We are particularly opposed to this practice. When there are 500 people dining you do not know the dangers (to the sculptures)," said Eleni Dracopoulou.

She said the Buckingham Palace had been contacted with reassurances that the non-appearance was not meant as a snub to the Queen.

Andrew Hamilton, head of media relations at the British Museum, confirmed the Greek Ambassador had "politely declined" an invitation to attend the dinner.

He defended the practice of entertaining in the gallery -- which is also available for corporate hire -- saying: "In common with other major museums, flagship galleries are occasionally used for such official functions."

About 1,500 dignitaries are expected to attend Wednesday's opening of the renovated Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, which now sports a two-acre glass ceiling -- making it the largest covered courtyard in Europe.

Around 600 will then sit down to dinner in three rooms.

Hidden to the public for 150 years, the refurbished courtyard houses an education centre, shops and eateries, and opens onto many of the galleries, allowing the museum's 5.5 million annual visitors to move around more easily.

The museum is Britain's second biggest tourist attraction -- behind Blackpool's amusement park Pleasure Beach -- and the Elgin Marbles, named after the man who brought them to the UK, are one of its major attractions.

Obtained by Lord Elgin when Greece was under Ottoman rule, the marbles have been on display in the museum since 1816.

The museum argues their stewardship has ensured the preservation of the marbles -- despite recent claims they were damaged by overzealous cleaning in the 1930s.

But Greece has been applying diplomatic pressure, with U.S. president Bill Clinton joining calls for their return, and is pressing ahead with plans for a new museum to house the ancient treasures.

In June, Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou asked a British select committee hearing to put aside questions of ownership and allow their display in Greece.

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