Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed displeasure after his planned meeting with British counterpart Rishi Sunak was canceled just hours before.
Rishi Sunak canceled his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis because the latter intended to discuss the repatriation of Greek antiquities, including the Parthenon Marbles, which are currently held in the British Museum. The marbles are held under the name Elgin Marbles.
Following Sunak’s cancellation, Mitsotakis was offered a meeting with British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, but he refused, stating on the Greek prime ministerial website that “whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his positions is never afraid of a confrontation of arguments.” He further expressed his disappointment at not being able to discuss the Parthenon Marbles issue and other global challenges such as Gaza, Ukraine, the climate crisis, and migration with his British counterpart.
‘They look better at the Acropolis Museum’
In an interview with the BBC on Nov 26, Mitsotakis was asked whether the Parthenon Marbles look better in the British Museum or in Athens. Mitsotakis replied that “the answer is very clear, they look better at the Acropolis Museum, which was built for that purpose”.
He again called for the return of the marbles, saying that having some of the ancient Greek artefacts in London and the rest in Athens is like cutting the Mona Lisa in half.
A senior official from Britain’s ruling Conservative Party official told the Financial Times newspaper that the meeting between the two prime ministers became impossible after Mitsotakis’ comments to the BBC.
“Our position is clear: the Elgin Marbles are part of the permanent collection of the British Museum and belong here. It is reckless for any British politician to suggest that this is subject to negotiation,” the official told the Financial Times.
Sunak’s office said in a statement that the UK-Greece relationship is “hugely important”, avoiding any comment on the Marbles dispute.
“The UK-Greece relationship is hugely important,” Sunak’s office said in a statement, avoiding any comment on the Marbles dispute.
“From our work together in NATO, to tackling shared challenges like illegal migration, to joint efforts to resolve the crisis in the Middle East and war in Ukraine. The deputy prime minister was available to meet with the Greek PM to discuss these important issues,” the statement said.
The classical marbles were once part of a frieze that decorated the Parthenon temple in Athens, built 447-432 BC, but they were removed in the early 19th century by agents of British diplomat Lord Elgin when Athens was under Ottoman rule. They were sold in 1816 to the British government and placed in the British Museum.
