LOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP
Because of the Parthenon Marbles, Rishi Sunak is canceling his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London this Tuesday, November 28th. (Here the friezes of the Parthenon from the Acropolis Museum in Athens)
INTERNATIONAL – Your bone of contention? The Parthenon Marbles. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed this Monday, November 27, his “dissatisfaction” with the decision of his British counterpart Rishi Sunak to cancel the meeting at which the already long-standing dispute over this frieze was supposed to be discussed. gigantic, formed at the end of antiquity.
“Greece’s positions on the Parthenon friezes are well known. “I was hoping to have the opportunity to talk to my British counterpart about this,” the Greek head of government complained in a short statement on Monday evening. “Those who believe in the correctness and justification of their positions are not afraid to engage with arguments,” he continued.
Deputy Prime Minister sent in place of Sunak
In fact, the two heads of state and government were supposed to meet in London in the middle of the day this Tuesday and discuss the return of the frieze, a third of which is in the Acropolis Museum in Athens and another part in the British Museum.
Contrary to expectations, the British government finally sent Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden instead of Rishi Sunak, Sky News reports. “The deputy prime minister was available to meet with the Greek prime minister to discuss these important issues,” a Downing Street spokesman said, citing cooperation within NATO and “working together to address challenges such as illegal migration “, the war in Ukraine and the war in the Middle East. But he wasn’t referring to the Parthenon Marbles.
As the Greek news agency ANA reported, citing sources within the Greek government, the British prime minister appeared to be upset by his Greek counterpart’s comments to the BBC on Sunday.
Like “Cut Mona Lisa in Two”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, an ardent supporter of returning the famous ancient marbles to Athens, estimated that keeping part of the Parthenon friezes outside Greece would be akin to “cutting up the Mona Lisa (the Mona Lisa).” “For me it is not a question of ownership, but a question of reunification,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, Rishi Sunak’s spokesman responded that London had “no intention” of facilitating the return of the marbles to Athens. The British Prime Minister believes that the Parthenon Marbles are “an important asset” for the United Kingdom, which has “preserved this heritage for generations,” his spokesman emphasized.
Athens has been demanding the return of these precious friezes for decades, particularly under the leadership of the former culture minister, the singer and actress Melina Mercouri. Greek authorities claim they were victims of “looting” during the Ottoman occupation of the country. For its part, London claims that the sculptures were “legally acquired” in 1802 by the British diplomat Lord Elgin, who sold them to the British Museum.
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