UK & Greece's row deepens over Parthenon sculptures

The row between Greece and the UK over the future of the Parthenon sculptures has been reignited between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece has repeatedly asked the British Museum to permanently return the 2,500-year-old sculptures, that British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

Mitsotakis arrived in the UK over the weekend ahead of a scheduled meeting with Sunak on Tuesday. But on Sunday, he was interviewed by the BBC and expressed his desire for the Sculptures to be returned to Greece.

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Sunak then cancelled his meeting with Mitsotakis and instead Downing Street said Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden would be available to discuss the situation. Mitsotakis declined and released a statement expressing his anger. "I express my annoyance that the British Prime Minister cancelled our planned meeting just hours before it was due to take place," Mitsotakis said in a statement.

"Greece's positions on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures are well known. I had hoped to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart. Anyone who believes in the rightness and justice of his positions is never afraid of confronting arguments," he said.

What are the Parthenon Sculptures?

The Parthenon Sculptures, often referred to as the Elgin Marbles, are 75 meters of the Parthenon frieze, 15 carved plaques and 17 sculptures which decorated the Parthenon temple from 447BC until the fourth century. Athens has long campaigned for their return, since they were removed by diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century. British officials say they were acquired legally.

On Sunday, Mitsotakis reiterated his stance on the sculptures. "We have not made as much progress as I would like in the negotiations," Mitsotakis told the BBC. "I'm a patient man, and we've waited for hundreds of years, and I will persist in these discussions. 

"We feel that the sculptures belong to Greece and that they were essentially stolen," Mitsotakis added before playing down the ownership aspect of the discussions and focusing instead on the importance of reuniting the sculptures with those in Athens. 

Sunak in March ruled out any change to a law that stops the British Museum handing the marbles back to Greece permanently, but the legislation does not prohibit a loan. The Greek government has been in discussions with British Museum chair George Osborne on a possible loan deal.

Will it impact the UK's relationship with Greece?

Asked about Mitsotakis' statement, Sunak's office said Britain's relationship with Greece was "hugely important" and the two countries needed to work together on global challenges like tackling illegal migration. The UK's Transport Secretary Mark Harper told the BBC on Tuesday that it was a "matter of regret" that no meeting would take place between the two countries after Mitsotakis declined the offer to meet Dowden.

He was also asked whether it was rude of the government to cancel its meeting with Mitsotakis. Harper said that Mitsotakis had still been offered another senior level meeting but respected his decision to decline.

In response, a spokesman for the Labour party attacked Sunak's decision to cause an unnecessary argument with an ally.  A party spokesman said: "To pick a fight with a NATO ally for the sake of a headline shows just how weak Rishi Sunak is.

"He should have been talking about the economy, immigration, the Middle East, that's what the country would expect from a leader."

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