LONDON — On Tuesday, Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in London for a significant high-level meeting, marking his first prominent visit since the dispute over the Parthenon Marbles surfaced last year.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer received Mitsotakis at 10 Downing Street, where discussions centered around pressing topics such as migration, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and initiatives aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. However, Starmer’s office clarified that the issue of the marbles would not be part of their agenda for the meeting.
As the meeting commenced, Starmer expressed his hopes for strengthening the robust bilateral ties between the two nations and addressing their shared challenges. In response, Mitsotakis emphasized Greece’s perspective of the United Kingdom as a key player in tackling security challenges, not just in Ukraine, but also in southeastern Europe and the Middle East.
The Parthenon Marbles, which are integral to a frieze that dates back approximately 2,500 years, were taken from Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin. These prized artifacts currently reside in the British Museum, but Greece maintains that their removal was unlawful and advocates for their return to be exhibited alongside the remaining Parthenon sculptures in a specially designed museum in Athens.
The diplomatic relationship between Britain and Greece has shown signs of improvement since a previous incident where then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unexpectedly canceled a meeting with Mitsotakis last November. This cancellation occurred after the Greek leader made a comparison likening the removal of the marbles to slicing Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, the “Mona Lisa,” in half. Sunak accused Mitsotakis of attempting to create a spectacle and revisiting previously settled matters by discussing the issue publicly, despite an earlier understanding.
Following this, British Museum Chairman George Osborne remarked that Sunak appeared to have an exaggerated reaction to the situation.
Despite legal restrictions preventing the British Museum from returning the marbles to Greece, there have been ongoing discussions regarding a potential long-term loan arrangement. Recent reports indicate that significant progress has been made since Starmer’s Labour Party took over from the Conservatives following the election in July.
Starmer has committed to revitalizing Britain’s relations with European countries after years of tension stemmed from the UK’s exit from the European Union.
The British Museum has stated that discussions about a “Parthenon partnership” continue in a productive manner. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Starmer conveyed that while loaning the artifacts is ultimately up to the British Museum, the government currently has no intentions to amend existing laws that would allow the permanent relocation of the Parthenon sculptures.
