Greeks broke promise not to raise Parthenon Sculptures, No 10 says
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Rewritten: Written by Henry Zeffman who is the chief political correspondent, and Harrison Jones & Chris Mason, who is the political editor.
Downing Street thought that the Greek government had promised that their leader wouldn't bring up the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures during his trip to the United Kingdom.
On Sunday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to the BBC and drew a comparison between the divide of the Elgin Marbles, or Parthenon sculptures, with having the Mona Lisa split in two. Some of these treasures are currently located in London while the others are situated in Athens.
Number 10 decided to call off the meeting between PM Rishi Sunak and Mr Mitsotakis.
The dispute has been labeled as "ridiculous" by the Labour party.
The figures represent valuable possessions from Ancient Greece, specifically the Parthenon. A British diplomat named Lord Elgin acquired them and transported them to the UK during the 1800s. Currently, they are on display at the British Museum.
Greece and UK have been holding onto their stances regarding the sculptures for a while, but their diplomatic conversation aimed at discussing other matters.
On Tuesday, while talking to BBC Breakfast, Mark Harper who is the Transport Secretary stated that he felt disappointed that there would not be any discussion scheduled between the two nations. This happened because Mr. Mitsotakis did not accept the alternative proposal of meeting Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.
When questioned about the government's behavior towards the Greek leader, Mr. Harper stated that they were given the opportunity for a high-ranking meeting, but ultimately it was up to the Greeks to form their own opinion.
During an interview on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Professor Irene Stamatoudi, who was previously on the advisory committee for the Greek Minister of Culture, affirmed that Greece has had an unwavering stance for many years and it is crystal clear.
In alternative phrasing, the statement was made that the Prime Minister of the UK appeared to be comparable in status to Lord Elgin. Additionally, it was expressed that the actions of Rishi Sunak did not align with the role of a leader representing a country that Greece collaborates with on various topics and regards as an ally.
Ms Stamatoudi mentioned that she was uncertain if there was any sort of arrangement made between the respective governments, which involved disregarding the matter at hand during their visit to London.
However, she also mentioned: "The state's leader cannot ignore inquiries regarding the Parthenon Marbles."
Mr Sunak wants people to know that he supports keeping the marbles in London. Someone important in the Conservative party said, "We're very clear about where we stand - the Elgin Marbles are a permanent part of the British Museum's collection and should stay here."
On Monday evening, Mr Mitsotakis informed reporters that he was extremely let down by the unexpected termination of the scheduled meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
He stated that people who strongly believe in the accuracy and fairness of their viewpoints do not hesitate to participate in productive discussions and argue their points.
Insiders who are familiar with the atmosphere within the Greek administration have indicated that he was feeling puzzled and irritated.
The leader of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, made a comparison between possessing some of the Elgin Marbles in the United Kingdom and slicing the famous painting, Mona Lisa, in two.
During an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC's Sunday, the previous day, the Prime Minister of Greece made a request for the sculptures to be given back.
The person expressed that the sculptures were taken without permission but suggested that the British Museum collaborate with them so that individuals could "value" the pieces "in their initial location".
Mr Mitsotakis has met with Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Labour during his visit to the UK and is set to finish up his planned meetings before returning to Greece on Tuesday.
There is currently a discussion happening about museums and their collections in a world that's moved past colonialism. It seems that Mr. Sunak has taken a clear stance on one side of this debate.
It's possible for there to be a disagreement within the Labour party led by Sir Keir Starmer regarding this matter.
A representative of the party said to the BBC that Rishi Sunak's behavior of starting a confrontation with a Nato ally just to gain attention demonstrates his lack of strength.
A person in a position of leadership is expected to discuss important topics such as the economy, immigration, and the situation in the Middle East. However, Rishi Sunak does not meet these expectations and therefore cannot be considered a true leader.
The British Museum is home to the Elgin Marbles.
The Labour party is making it clear that they do not support the idea mentioned in a Greek newspaper that they would be willing to find a legal way to return the sculptures to Greece.
Instead, the party affirms that it would not intervene if the British Museum and the Greek government were to reach a loan agreement. This is the stance of a Labour government.
The UK government spokesperson announced that they have no intention of altering the 1963 British Museum Act, which restricts the eradication of items from the British Museum's assemblage.
However, obtaining a loan can occur even if the British Prime Minister's stance remains unchanged because no legal modifications are necessary.
According to a source within the Labour party, their stance on the matter has not changed and they would not make any legal modifications to relocate the sculptures permanently. The source also criticized Mr Sunak's actions, calling them "pitiful".
George Osborne, who was formerly the Conservative chancellor from 2010 to 2016 and is currently serving as the Chair of Trustees for the British Museum, had expressed his desire to explore options that would enable certain sculptures to be showcased in Greece for a certain period.
Last month, Mr. Osborne spoke to the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee. He stated that if a deal were to occur, Greece's objects would need to arrive here for the first time.
There is a belief that any conclusion will not be made for several months.
