Rishi Sunak cancels talks with Greek PM over Elgin marbles

Kyriakos Mitsotakis reportedly declined a British offer to meet Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden instead.

British Labour leader Starmer meets Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London. Picture: AFP

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his “displeasure” on Monday over British counterpart Rishi Sunak’s last-minute cancellation of a bilateral meeting set to discuss their long-running dispute over the Parthenon Marbles.

The two leaders were due to hold talks on Tuesday in London, where Mr Mitsotakis has been visiting since Sunday, before news of their axing emerged late on Monday amid an apparent spat over the Elgin Marbles.

“I would like to express my displeasure at the British Prime Minister’s cancellation of our meeting just a few hours before it was due to take place,” the Greek leader said in a brief statement.

He reportedly declined a UK offer to meet Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden instead.

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. Athens maintains the marbles were stolen, which Britain denies, and the issue has been a source of contention between the countries for decades.

Mr Sunak has “no plans” to facilitate their return to Athens, his spokesman said earlier on Monday.

“Greece’s 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,” Mr Mitsotakis lamented.

“Those who believe in the rightness and validity of their positions are never afraid to confront the arguments.”

According to 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, when he likened the collection held at the British Museum to the Mona Lisa painting being cut in half.

Athens had been lobbying London for a deal that would return the sculptures under some kind of loan arrangement, he told the BBC.

A source from Britain’s Conservatives told the BBC on Monday that “it became impossible for this meeting to go ahead following commentary regarding the Elgin Marbles prior to it”.

AFP