Greeks promised not to raise Elgin Marbles

Downing Street believed it had assurances from the Greek government that their prime minister would not raise the subject of the Parthenon Sculptures on his visit to the UK.

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the BBC on Sunday that having some of the treasures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, in London and others in Athens was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half.

No 10 then cancelled PM Rishi Sunak's meeting with Mr Mitsotakis.

Labour has branded the row "pathetic".

The sculptures are a collection of ancient Greek treasures from the Parthenon which were taken and brought to the UK by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th Century. They are now in the British Museum.

Both Greece and the UK have long-standing positions on the sculptures, but diplomatic talks were expected to focus on other topics.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday that it was a "matter of regret" that no meeting would take place between the two countries after Mr Mitsotakis declined a secondary offer to meet Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden instead.

Asked whether the government's treatment of the Greek leader was rude, Mr Harper said the Greeks had been offered a senior-level meeting but were entitled to take their own view.

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Professor Irene Stamatoudi, a former member of the advisory committee for the Greek Minister of Culture, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Greece's stance was "crystal clear and has remained unchanged" for years.

Saying that the UK's PM looked "no better than Lord Elgin", she continued: "Rishi Sunak's behaviour does not even come close to that of a leader of a great nation with which Greece cooperates on a number of issues and considers a friend."

Ms Stamatoudi said she did not know whether there was an agreement between the two governments for the issue not to be raised during the London visit.

But she added: "It is not possible for the prime minister of the state not to respond to questions about the Parthenon Marbles."

Mr Sunak is keen to be seen as a defender of the marbles' place in London. A senior Conservative source said: "Our position is clear - the Elgin Marbles are part of the permanent collection of the British Museum and belong here."

But Mr Mitsotakis told reporters on Monday evening he was "deeply disappointed by the abrupt cancellation" of the meeting, which had been planned for Tuesday lunchtime.

"Those who firmly believe in the correctness and justice of their positions are never hesitant to engage in constructive argumentation and debate," he said.

Sources with knowledge of the mood in the Greek government have suggested he was both "baffled" and "annoyed".

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Greeks promised not to raise Elgin Marbles

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