British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has delved into the perennial dispute between the United Kingdom and Greece over the Parthenon marbles, alleging “bad faith” on the part of his counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his three-day visit to London..
The head of the Greek Government shortened his stay in the city on the Thames by a few hours after the cancellation by the British side of a meeting in Downing Street, agreed for this Tuesday. The office of the conservative president justified the sit-in by failing to comply with guarantees and promises offered by his European allies until now.
“The Greek Government provided assurances that they would not use the visit as a public platform to re-litigate already resolved issues relating to the ownership of the Parthenon sculptures,” Sunak's spokesman argued.. These promises were not kept, according to Downing Street, and were never offered, according to Mitsotakis' team.
The diplomatic imbroglio exploded following statements that the head of Government and leader of New Democracy made on the BBC to explain the situation of the marble pieces that the Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, sold to the British Parliament in 1816.. For the Greeks it was a looting and theft of more than half of the marbles that are preserved from the ancient temple of Athena. “It's like we cut the Mona Lisa in half and one part stays in the Louvre and the other in the British Museum,” he compared.
The graphic comment, according to conservative circles, made it “impossible” to maintain the planned agenda between both leaders. Mitsotakis was offered the opportunity to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, which the Greek rejected without publicly ignoring his anger or frustration.. “Those who believe in the correctness and justice of their positions never fear the confrontation of arguments,” he communicated on the social network. Immigration, the conflict between Israel and Hamas or the war in Ukraine were mentioned among the current issues that were going to be addressed at the canceled meeting.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. AFP
Sunak's rude gesture clashes with the desire of former Conservative minister and chairman of the board of the British Museum, George Osborne, to find a “practical, pragmatic and rational” solution to the fate of the pieces in negotiations with the Greek government.. “We are seeking a partnership with our Greek friends that requires no one to abandon their claims,” the old ally of current Foreign Secretary David Cameron said recently.
The leader of the opposition, Labor Keir Starmer, has aligned himself with this current of open understanding between London and Athens, without committing to modify the legal text that prohibits the restitution of the pieces of the Acropolis of Athens. The center-left leader met with Mitsotakis having previously indicated that he would not interfere in an agreement mutually accepted by both parties that allows the temporary departure of the marbles housed in the Británico.
The conversation took place minutes before Sunak canceled his appointment with the Greek visitor. Some commentators interpreted the snub as a move by the Tories to bring the 'Elgin marbles' into the electoral battle, promoting Sunak as protector of the national artistic heritage against a Labor rival willing to lose the relics.
Compared to his Greek counterpart, Sunak is in a completely different situation. Mitsotakis renewed his position in June, strengthening his mandate with another five years to sign an agreement with the British Museum. Sunak will close two decades of conservative governments, without validating his leadership at the polls, if the forecasts of opinion polls that give victory to Labor under Starmer come true..