Diplomatic rigidities amid UK, Greece have heightened
(MENAFN) Diplomatic tensions between the United Kingdom and Greece have heightened as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of politicizing a longstanding dispute over Greek antiquities held in United Kingdom museums. During a contentious Prime Minister's Questions in the United Kingdom Parliament, Sunak defended his decision to cancel a meeting with Mitsotakis, alleging that the Greek leader had reneged on an agreement not to focus on the return of the 5th-century antiquities, commonly known as the Elgin Marbles.
Sunak stated, "When it was clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss substantive issues of the future but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past, it was inappropriate." The cancellation of the meeting followed Downing Street's assertion that Mitsotakis violated an earlier promise to avoid addressing the decades-old dispute, referencing a recent interview in which he advocated for the marbles' return.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni responded by criticizing London for "barbarism," asserting that the sculptures were the result of theft. She vowed to engage with the British Museum, where the Elgin Marbles are currently housed. The diplomatic spat has raised questions about the handling of historical artifacts and the broader implications for United Kingdom-Greece relations.
Labour leader Keir Starmer also weighed in on the dispute, quipping, "Never mind the British Museum, it's the prime minister who has obviously lost his marbles." Starmer, who met with Mitsotakis prior to the canceled meeting, defended Greece as "a fellow NATO member, an economic ally, one of our most important partners in tackling illegal immigration." As both nations navigate the fallout from this diplomatic disagreement, the incident underscores the complexities surrounding cultural heritage and international relations.
Sunak stated, "When it was clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss substantive issues of the future but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past, it was inappropriate." The cancellation of the meeting followed Downing Street's assertion that Mitsotakis violated an earlier promise to avoid addressing the decades-old dispute, referencing a recent interview in which he advocated for the marbles' return.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni responded by criticizing London for "barbarism," asserting that the sculptures were the result of theft. She vowed to engage with the British Museum, where the Elgin Marbles are currently housed. The diplomatic spat has raised questions about the handling of historical artifacts and the broader implications for United Kingdom-Greece relations.
Labour leader Keir Starmer also weighed in on the dispute, quipping, "Never mind the British Museum, it's the prime minister who has obviously lost his marbles." Starmer, who met with Mitsotakis prior to the canceled meeting, defended Greece as "a fellow NATO member, an economic ally, one of our most important partners in tackling illegal immigration." As both nations navigate the fallout from this diplomatic disagreement, the incident underscores the complexities surrounding cultural heritage and international relations.

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research

- Alt.Town Introduces $TOWN Token Utility Across Platform Services And Launches Valuefi Deposit Event
- BTCC Exchange Maintains 143% Total Reserve Ratio In September 2025 Demonstrating Continued Financial Strength
- Salvium Solves The Privacy Paradox: Salvium One Delivers Mica-Compliant Privacy That Exchanges Can List
- Zebu Live 2025 Welcomes Coinbase, Solana, And Other Leaders Together For UK's Biggest Web3 Summit
- Tapbit At TOKEN2049: Reshaping The Crypto Landscape Through Product Innovation
- Thrivestate Launches“Fly Before You Buy” Program, Enabling International Buyers To Explore Dubai Before Committing
Comments
No comment