Greek officials said they won a major diplomatic success at a UNESCO committee meeting as 20 nations from all geographic blocs expressed their support for reuniting the Parthenon Sculptures with Greece.

Greece was supported by Egypt, Brazil, Italy, Cyprus, Nigeria, the Czech Republic, Lebanon and Turkey.

Turkey’s delegation argued that Lord Elgin lacked authorisation for his removals, stating the sultan’s permit – during Ottoman rule of Greece in the early 19th century – cited by Britain simply does not exist.

Legal arguments were unheeded by any allied voice as Britain’s delegation pressed its case. It was a coordinated effort, which was attributed to the foreign and culture ministries of Greece and the Acropolis Museum.