Greece Prepares To Renew Claims For Antiquities at Getty Museum

Seizing on a historic accord between Italy and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Greece is gearing up to renew claims for four antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, a spokeswoman for the Greek Cultural Ministry confirmed yesterday.

Greece had threatened legal action against the Getty in November after ministry officials said they were frustrated with the museum's unresponsiveness to their claims. The case had been put on hold while new leaders took the helm at the museum and the ministry. Now the Met's agreement to send prized antiquities to Italy in exchange for long-term loans has spurred the new Greek culture minister, George Voulgarakis, to step up its efforts against the Getty, a ministry spokes woman, Eugenia Middou, said. The ministry plans to contact the museum in the next few days, she said.

Since taking office last month, Mr. Voulgarakis has sent letters of congratulation to his Italian counterpart, Rocco Buttiglione, and the director of the Met, Philippe de Montebello. Greece is not making claims for objects at the Met, officials said.

The Getty did not return requests for comment yesterday. The museum has been roiled by claims of disputed antiquities in recent years. A former curator, Marion True, is on trial in Rome on charges of conspiring to traffic in looted art, and the museum voluntarily returned three pieces to Italy last year. In January, its new director, Michael Brand, went to Rome to begin talks with Italian officials regarding other pieces.