Sunak cancels Greek PM meeting in Parthenon Sculptures row

A diplomatic row has damaged out between the British and Greek governments over the Parthenon Sculptures, often known as the Elgin Marbles.

The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was as a result of meet Rishi Sunak in London, however No 10 cancelled the meeting on the final minute.

He informed reporters he was “deeply disappointed by the abrupt cancellation” of the meeting.

Mr Mitsotakis rejected another meeting with the deputy prime minister.

The cancellation got here a day after Mr Mitsotakis informed the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the marbles must be returned, as having among the artefacts in London and the remaining in Athens was like slicing the Mona Lisa in half.

The Greek prime minister informed reporters on Monday night he was disenchanted the meeting had been cancelled “mere hours before its slated time”, saying: “Those who firmly believe in the correctness and justice of their positions are never hesitant to engage in constructive argumentation and debate.”

Mr Mitsotakis stated: “Greece and Britain share longstanding ties of friendship, and the scope of our bilateral relations is intensive.

“Our positions on the matter of the Parthenon Sculptures are well-known. I had anticipated partaking in a dialogue with my British counterpart on this difficulty, in addition to addressing vital world challenges such because the conditions in Gaza and Ukraine, the local weather disaster, and migration.”

Sources with information of the temper in the Greek authorities stated Mr Mitsotakis was “baffled” and “aggravated”.

The meeting had been as a result of occur at lunchtime on Tuesday and, the BBC understands, was as a result of final 45 minutes.

The British authorities confirmed the cancellation and provided the Greek PM a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden as a substitute.

A senior Conservative supply stated: “It turned not possible for this meeting to go forward following commentary concerning the Elgin Marbles previous to it.

“Our position is clear – the Elgin Marbles are part of the permanent collection of the British Museum and belong here. It is reckless for any British politician to suggest that this is subject to negotiation.”

Mr Mitsotakis met the Labour chief Keir Starmer earlier.

He will now return to Greece on Tuesday after his scheduled conferences in the morning – declining the meeting with Mr Dowden.

Don’t underestimate the politics of this row.

The Conservatives argue it was naive of Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer to fulfill the Greek chief, given the general public view he expressed on the way forward for the marbles on Sunday.

Labour’s view is they would not stand in the way in which of a mortgage association between the British Museum and Athens if one was organized.

A spokesperson for the British authorities stated there have been “no plans” to alter the 1963 British Museum Act – which prohibits the elimination of objects from the establishment’s assortment.

But a mortgage doesn’t require a change in the legislation and so may occur no matter the view of the British prime minister.

Many Conservatives imagine such an association can be a “slippery slope”, as one put it to me.

“Keir Starmer is clearly keen to ignore the contributions generations of British taxpayers have made to keep them safe and share them with the world,” one occasion supply claimed.

But a Labour supply stated their place was long-standing – a Labour authorities wouldn’t change the legislation to permit the sculptures to be completely moved – and Mr Sunak’s behaviour was “pathetic”.

Another supply stated “what a bizarre piece of culture war theatre”.

A Labour spokesperson stated: “If the prime minister isn’t able to meet with a European ally with whom Britain has important economic ties, this is further proof he isn’t able to provide the serious economic leadership our country requires. Keir Starmer’s Labour Party stands ready.”

The sculptures are arguably probably the most high-profile artworks in the more and more contested debate about whether or not museums the world over ought to return gadgets to their nations of origin.

Lord Elgin, a British soldier and diplomat, eliminated them from the Parthenon temple in Athens in the early 19th Century. The sculptures had been then purchased by the British authorities in 1816 and positioned in the British Museum.

The marble figures are a part of a frieze that adorned the 2,500-year previous temple, made by the sculptor Phidias.

The Parthenon Gallery on the Acropolis Museum was constructed greater than a decade in the past to accommodate the sculptures. The exhibition combines the unique marble sculptures with plaster copies of these held in the British Museum and different international museums.

The trustees of the British Museum are presently exploring the prospect of a mortgage association with Greece.

The British Museum’s Chair of Trustees, George Osborne, who’s the previous chancellor, has beforehand stated he’s trying to discover “some kind of arrangement to allow some of the sculptures to spend some of their time in Greece”.

Speaking to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in October, Mr Osborne stated any deal must see “objects from Greece coming here” for the primary time.

It is assumed any determination is at the very least months away.