Mitsotakis to raise issue of Parthenon Marbles return with British Prime Minister

·

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has said he plans to raise the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum in a meeting with British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, next week.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mitsotakis said that the 2,500-year-old sculptures had been “stolen” from Athens “and we need to discuss this issue in earnest.” 

“It would be an amazing message from what Boris Johnson calls ‘Global Britain’ if there is some movement on this issue and they look at it from a completely different perspective,” Mitsotakis said in the interview.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave an interview to The Daily Telegraph.

“I am sure that if there was a willingness on the part of the government [of the UK] to move, we could find an arrangement with the British Museum in terms of us sending abroad cultural treasures on loan, which have never left the country.”

This interview came just days after the Greek Prime Minister called on the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles to Athens at an event in Paris celebrating UNESCO’s 75th anniversary.

“The UK should move to a bona fide dialogue with Greece. And I urge them to do so. After all, this year marks the 200th anniversary of Greece’s war of independence. There could be no better time than now, in which to reunite the missing section of the Parthenon sculptures – in their birthplace – in Greece,” he told the assembled heads of state.

However, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, dismissed the appeal for their return to Greece earlier this year.

“I understand the strong feelings of the Greek people – and indeed Prime Minister Mitsotakis – on the issue,” Johnson told Greek newspaper, Ta Nea, earlier this year.

“But the UK government has a firm, longstanding position on the sculptures, which is that they were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s trustees since their acquisition.”

Tuesday’s talks will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two men in which the cultural row is formally raised. 

Source: The Guardian.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Melbourne hosts a Greek sporting extravaganza at the 2025 Greek Herald Cup

On Saturday, January 18, more than 2,000 fans gathered at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium to witness The Greek Herald Cup.

Greek connection to heartwarming adoption reunion story

Maria Pittas and James Pappas have found themselves at the centre of an inspiring story in which they were reunited with biological siblings.

Australia’s Holy Eparchial Synod reviews case of Deacon Mario Baghos

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia convened on Friday under the leadership of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

Petsios family close SA tomato farm after 65 years due to virus

The owners of SA Tomato, a 65-year-old tomato nursery in Adelaide, are considering legal action after closing due to a tomato virus.

Trade relations the focus of meeting between Greek and Australian business leaders

A recent meeting between the EBETH and Elena Limnios aimed at boosting trade and business ties between Greece and Australia.

You May Also Like

Hydra on the Eve of the Greek War of Independence

Time travel is still not a possibility but Alexander Billinis takes us back to Hydra around the period of the Greek Revolution.

Anthony Albanese MP – Opinion: Labor offers a better future for all Australians

Anthony Albanese MP writes this opinion piece ahead of the election: Labor offers a better future for all Australians.

Panarcadian Association of Melbourne celebrates milestone 65th anniversary

The Panarcadian Association of Melbourne celebrated its 65th anniversary and also commemorated the Liberation of Tripolitsa in 1821.