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Parthenon marbles row derails talks between UK\u2019s Sunak, Greece\u2019s Mitsotakis | Politics News<\/p>\n
The Greek PM expressed \u2018displeasure\u2019 that Sunak axed their meeting, saying he avoided talks on the disputed marbles.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Diplomatic sparks are flying after Britain\u2019s prime minister abruptly cancelled a meeting with his Greek counterpart in which they were due to discuss long-contested artefacts.<\/p>\n British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was scheduled on Monday to meet visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who planned to raise the status of the Elgin Marbles, a set of 2,500-year-old Greek sculptures that Athens wants Britain to return.<\/p>\n Greece asserts that the marbles, taken from the Parthenon temple by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, were stolen \u2013 an assertion denied by Britain.<\/p>\n The issue has been a source of contention between the countries for decades.<\/p>\n Mitsotakis, in a statement, expressed \u201cdispleasure\u201d that the British prime minister had cancelled their meeting at the last minute, accusing him of sidestepping the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cGreece\u2019s position on the issue of the Parthenon friezes is well known. I had hoped to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart,\u201d Mitsotakis lamented.<\/p>\n \u201cThose who believe in the rightness and validity of their positions are never afraid to confront the arguments,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mitsokis reportedly declined a UK offer to meet Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden instead.<\/p>\n A Downing Street spokesperson, responding to Mitsotakis\u2019s statement, said \u201cthe UK-Greece relationship is hugely important\u201d, citing joint work within NATO and \u201ctackling shared challenges like illegal migration\u201d and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cThe deputy prime minister was available to meet with the Greek PM to discuss these important issues,\u201d the spokesperson added, without referencing the marbles issue.<\/p>\n The sculptures were taken from the Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in Greece in the early 19th century by British diplomat Thomas Bruce, the earl of Elgin.<\/p>\n Britain maintains it acquired the scriptures legally.<\/p>\n According to the Greek news agency ANA, citing sources within the Greek government, the British prime minister was apparently upset by comments made by his Greek counterpart to the BBC on Sunday.<\/p>\n In his comments, Mitsotakis likened the collection being held at the British Museum to the Mona Lisa painting being cut in half.<\/p>\n A source from Britain\u2019s ruling Conservatives told the broadcaster on Monday that \u201cit became impossible for this meeting to go ahead following commentary regarding the Elgin Marbles prior to it\u201d.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s government has always ruled out giving up ownership of the marbles, which include about half of the 160-metre (525-ft) frieze that adorned the Parthenon.<\/p>\n However, Athens has recently been pushing for a deal that would return the sculptures under some kind of loan arrangement.<\/p>\n The Financial Times last week reported that British opposition leader Keir Starmer would not block a \u201cmutually acceptable\u201d loan deal for the sculptures. A meeting between Mitsotakis and Starmer went ahead on Monday as planned.<\/p>\n But Sunak\u2019s spokesperson said on Monday the UK government had \u201cno plans to change our approach, and certainly we think that the [British] museum is the right place\u201d for the marbles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0635\u062f\u0631<\/a>Decades-old dispute<\/h2>\n
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