[RightWhale]

We know that the atmosphere in Athens will dissolve the fresco and other decorations to smooth nubs in five years, but send them back anyway. As far as Egypt is concerned, their archaeological department has made great strides and they are ready to care for and preserve the artifacts, even though it is they themselves who have been dismantling their priceless heirlooms over the centuries. Whatever happened to the cap of the pyramid, or the outer covering? How many trainloads of mummies have gone up in smoke from their locomotives? They're ready now, though, and the Islamicists won't suddenly rampage through the museum turning everything to dust and smoke one day.

[Willie Green]

We know that the atmosphere in Athens will dissolve the fresco and other decorations to smooth nubs in five years, but send them back anyway.

I would think that the curators in both the British and Greek museums understand that as well.
Perhaps they've already agreed to continue the charade of a "dispute" for publicity purposes. It gives them some leverage over public opinion to address air quality issues.

[Teacher317]

As with the Elgin Marbles, the wannabe hosting governments "promise" to build state-of-the-art museums for preservation... this while the statues that never left the Parthenon continue to rot. Obviously, once they have the treasures back, they will extort money from those silly Westerners who value the items.

[brownie]

Then should everything that was ever taken from anywhere be returned to the "original" owners? What about conquered lands? The gold taken from the Incas - should that be given to today's mexicans?

I think it belongs to England, and should remain in their until they decide otherwise. If not, we will continually be in a debate over who has the rights to what based on some imaginary tie to history.