United Kingdom: The Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, criticised his British counterpart, Mr. Rishi Sunak, for cancelling a scheduled meeting in London. According to reports, the Greek PM had hoped to raise the issue of the Parthenon marbles in the meeting as disagreements over the antiquities erupted with renewed intensity.
Mr. Mitsotakis told reporters that he was “deeply disappointed by the abrupt cancellation” of the meeting.
“I want to express my annoyance at the fact that the British prime minister cancelled our scheduled meeting a few hours before it was due to take place,” the centre-right leader said in a statement released by his Maximou office as the diplomatic row intensified.
Mr. Mitsotakis further remarked that “Greece and Britain are united by traditionally strong ties of friendship, and the framework of our bilateral relations is exceptionally broad. The views of Greece from the Parthenon sculptures are well known.”
“Our positions on the matter of the Parthenon sculptures are well known. I had anticipated engaging in a discussion with my British counterpart on this issue, as well as addressing significant global challenges such as the situations in Gaza and Ukraine, the climate crisis, and migration,” the Greek PM added.
The British government confirmed the cancellation and offered the Greek PM a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Oliver Dowden, instead. But Mr. Mitsotakis rejected the alternative meeting with the Deputy PM.
A Labour Party spokesperson commented on the row that “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.”
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