ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- The J. Paul Getty Museum announced Monday that it would return to Greece an ancient gold wreath and a marble bust that Greece claims were illegally spirited out of the country. At a news conference with the Greek culture minister, museum director Michael Brand said they had "reached an agreement in principle on the return of two objects." A statement added that "a formal agreement, which will be signed soon, will include details about the return of the objects to Greece." Greece claims the works -- a gold wreath dating from about 400 B.C. and a sixth century B.C. marble statue of a young woman -- were illegally excavated and spirited out of the country. It was unclear if the return would stop a Greek criminal investigation over the alleged theft of the wreath. In late November an Athens prosecutor brought criminal charges against "persons unknown," a blanket accusation allowing a magistrate to open a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether anyone should be brought to trial. The announcement said a "collaborative, analytical approach" had also led to the return of two other antiquities from the Getty Museum claimed by Greece and was "the appropriate way to resolve complex ownership claims involving ancient works of art." Following pressure from Greece, the museum already has returned two sculptures dating to the 6th and the 4th centuries B.C. The artifacts, returned in September, are on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Italy also has been seeking the return of several antiquities it claims the Getty obtained illegally. Under Italian law, all antiquities found in the country after 1939 must be turned over to the state. Rome has been campaigning aggressively to recover antiquities it maintains were dug up and sold illegally to museums worldwide, signing separate deals this year with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts for the return of a total of 34 artifacts in exchange for loans of other treasures. But talks with the Getty have so far failed to yield a comprehensive deal. Italy demanded the Getty return at least 47 works, and the museum agreed Nov. 21 to return 26 allegedly looted antiquities-- an offer that did not include the highly prized statue of the goddess Aphrodite and a bronze of a victorious athlete. Rome called the offer unilateral and inadequate. Italy's campaign includes the prosecution of former Getty curator Marion True and art dealer Robert Hecht, who are on trial in Rome for allegedly receiving archaeological treasures stolen from private collections or dug up illicitly. They deny wrongdoing. In March, Greek police raided a holiday home belonging to True on the Aegean Sea island of Paros and confiscated 18 unregistered antiquities. The former Getty curator was out of the country at the time. No charges have been filed, as a police investigation is still under way. Under Greek law all antiquities found in the country are state property, although collectors can be issued permits to display artifacts that are inherited or imported -- after these are registered with state authorities.