United Kingdom officials have indicated the cultural dispute over the so-called Parthenon marbles was not expected to be a priority on the agenda when Prime Minister Keir Starmer met his Greek counterpart in London on Tuesday.

However, negotiations on a deal for the return of the ancient artifacts have made significant progress, according to Greek government sources.

While Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was expected to raise the contentious issue during his meeting with Starmer, Downing Street emphasized that discussions would focus on regional security issues.

Ahead of the meeting, Starmer said he hoped to "build on our strong bilateral relationship and to talk about our common issues".

Mitsotakis said Greece saw "the United Kingdom as integral in addressing the security challenges that we are facing, not just in Ukraine but also in southeastern Europe and the Middle East".

The sculptures, which are also known as the Elgin marbles, were taken from Athens to the UK in the early 1800s and Greece wants them back, but the British Museum says it legally owns them.

The marbles have been on display at the museum since 1816, after they were purchased from Lord Elgin, a British diplomat who removed them from Athens during Ottoman rule.

The Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday that talks about the marbles had advanced since Starmer's center-left Labour Party succeeded the Conservative Party government in a July election.

While UK law prevents the British Museum from giving the marbles back to Greece, reports suggest negotiations have centered on a possible long-term loan deal.

Starmer's spokesperson told reporters on Monday: "Our position on the Elgin marbles has not changed. It remains a matter for the British Museum, and the government has no plans to change the law to permit a permanent move of the Parthenon sculptures."

According to official sources cited by The Guardian, discussions between Greece's Foreign Ministry and the chairman of the British Museum, George Osborne, are nearing a potential deal to return the sculptures to Athens.

"The mood music has completely changed," said one source close to the negotiations.

The proposed deal would involve a cultural exchange, with Greece receiving the sculptures back for display alongside existing Parthenon pieces in Athens, while the UK would host major Greek art exhibitions in London.

With terms now understood to be set, sources say talks have shifted to logistics, including how to safely move the artifacts from the UK to Greece.

Anglo-Greek relations are said to be improving after a diplomatic spat last year, when former prime minister Rishi Sunak canceled talks with Mitsotakis over the marbles issue.

jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com