LOS ANGELES, CA, and ATHENS, GREECE.- The following statement is being issued jointly by the Honorable Georgios A. Voulgarakis, Minister of Culture for the Hellenic Republic, and Dr. Michael Brand, director of the J. Paul Getty Museum:

We are pleased to announce today we have reached an agreement in principle on the return of two objects in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum – a Gold Funerary Wreath and a Statue of a Kore – that have been claimed by the Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture. A formal agreement, which will be signed soon, will include details about the return of the objects to Greece, as well as plans for future collaboration between the Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Dr. Brand said he made the decision to return the objects, which has been approved by the Board of Trustees of the J. Paul Getty Trust, on the basis of the Getty’s thorough review of evidence, which included information provided by the Ministry. Minister Voulgarakis and Dr. Brand agreed that this collaborative, analytical approach, which in August led to the return of two other objects from the Getty Museum claimed by the Ministry, was the appropriate way to resolve complex ownership claims involving ancient works of art.

Minister Voulgarakis announced that the resolution of outstanding issues between the Hellenic Republic and the Getty now will allow the Ministry to work with the Getty Museum to establish a broad framework for cultural cooperation in areas of common interest, including loans of important ancient artifacts and periodical exhibitions.

Minister Voulgarakis and Dr. Brand praised their respective teams for their dedication and diligent work in completing the process begun early this year that resulted in the agreement announced today.