The J. Paul Getty Trust on Thursday stood by an announcement that a tentative agreement was reached in negotiations with Italian authorities over allegedly illegally obtained antiquities.

A trust spokesman responded to Italian officials who objected after the Getty on Wednesday released what was identified as a joint statement with Italy's culture ministry. It described a tentative agreement that calls for unspecified objects to be sent to Italy in return for loans of comparable items.

"The joint statement indicated clearly that the Italian government would receive a number of significant items from the Getty and Italy would loan objects of comparable importance," said Getty spokesman Ron Hartwig. "Of course, the specifics will need to be hammered out in the final agreement and we understand that."

Italian officials had a slightly different take. The joint statement simply mirrors Italy's long-standing position that antiquities should be returned in exchange for loans of comparable items, said Maurizio Fiorilli, the lead negotiator for the ministry.

"It's not an agreement, we haven't signed anything," Fiorilli told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "If this is a deal, what pieces are they giving back? We haven't discussed that."

Fiorilli said the joint statement was merely "a declaration of intents" and a sign that the talks were going well.

Italy has been negotiating for the return of dozens of artifacts by the U.S. cultural and philanthropic organization, whose museums include the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.

The statement issued Wednesday said the "Italian government will receive from the Getty a number of very significant objects, including several masterpieces. In return, as a sign of fruitful dialogue and collaboration among the parties, Italy will provide loans of objects of comparable visual beauty and historical importance."

The statement did not say whether the items to be sent to Italy were the disputed antiquities. It said a final agreement, including "mutual collaboration, research and the exchange of important antiquities," is expected in the early summer.

After having Fiorilli's comments read to him, Hartwig said both sides are "essentially saying the same thing."

"I think it's understandable there is going to be a desire to clarify statements and we appreciate that," he said. "We take the joint statement at face value and believe everything in it represents the viewpoints of the Italian government and the Getty."