LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 23: Visitors to the British Museum walk around a selection of items from the collection of ancient Greek sculptures known as The Elgin Marbles on August 23, 2023 in London, England.
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LONDON — In an unexpected turn of events, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided to cancel his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This diplomatic tension stems from a longstanding dispute over the ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures.
Greece has consistently argued for the return of the 2,500-year-old sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, which were taken by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the 19th century and are currently housed in the British Museum.
The disagreement surrounding the sculptures has been a point of contention between the two nations for centuries. Mitsotakis expressed frustration over the slow progress in talks regarding a possible loan deal for the sculptures, likening the situation to dividing the “Mona Lisa in half” with part of the artefacts being held in the British Museum and the rest in Athens.
With Sunak’s unexpected cancellation, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden stepped in to meet with Mitsotakis in his place.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives ahead of the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit in Tirana on Oct. 16, 2023.
Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images
In response to the last-minute cancellation, Mitsotakis expressed his disappointment, stating, “Anyone who believes in the correctness and justice of their positions is never afraid of opposing arguments.”
The British government has consistently maintained that the marbles were legally acquired and also highlighted a domestic law preventing the permanent removal of objects from the British Museum’s collection, although a possible loan agreement is not prohibited.
