A heated diplomatic conflict flared between Greece and the UK on Monday after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
This move led Athens to accuse London of evading discussions regarding the contested Parthenon Marbles.
The two leaders were set to engage in talks at noon the next day in London.
“I express my strong disapproval of the British Prime Minister’s decision to cancel our meeting mere hours before it was due,” the Greek PM stated.
According to the BBC, Mitsotakis refused an alternative offer to meet with British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, in place of the original meeting with Sunak.
Statements by Sunak and Mitsotakis Regarding the Meeting
Mitsotakis was expected to bring up Greece’s long-standing demand for the return of the ancient sculptures from London’s British Museum.
“Greece and Britain share deep traditional bonds of friendship, and the extent of our bilateral relations is extensive,” Mitsotakis stated. “Greece’s stances on the matter of the Parthenon Sculptures are well-documented. I had hoped to discuss them with my British counterpart, in addition to addressing current significant international issues: Gaza, Ukraine, climate change, and immigration. Anyone confident in the justness of their standpoints should not fear engaging in dialogue.”
“The UK-Greece relationship is tremendously important,” stated Sunak’s office in a statement that did not mention the disputed sculptures. “From our collaboration in NATO, to addressing shared challenges such as illegal migration, to joint efforts to resolve the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine.”
The statement continued, “The deputy prime minister was available to meet with the Greek PM to discuss these important issues.”
Background on the Parthenon Marbles Dispute
Greece has persistently demanded the return of the sculptures taken by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.
Originally, these sculptures adorned the ancient Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, but they have been housed in the British Museum for over 200 years.
About half of the surviving marble works, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are in London, while the remainder is housed in a specially constructed museum beneath the Acropolis.
In March this year, Sunak stated that the UK would not change a British law, preventing the return of the Parthenon fragments to Greece.
jsi/rt (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
