K. Mitsotakis on FT for the return of the Parthenon sculptures: It would be a great demonstration of diplomacy from Britain

The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, described the request for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures as a matter of great interest and not just a footnote during his visit to the United Kingdom during an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday, referring to the Sculptures taken from him. Parthenon of Athens in the early 19th century.

“There is a very strong argument for their reunification, which I find particularly important. If I were Prime Minister Johnson and I was thinking ‘out of the box’ about ‘World Britain’ and supporting this idea, a British “An essential role in the post-Brexit world would be a very large demonstration of public diplomacy if we approached the issue from a different perspective,” he said.

“If you visit the new Acropolis Museum you will understand what I mean. There one must see the sculptures”, next to the original works left behind by Elgin “, stressed Kyriakos Mitsotakis, referring to the sculpture section that is now housed in London and is represented The Prime Minister stressed that the “Elgin Marbles” is a very important monument and not just any work of art.

The Prime Minister stressed in the same interview that he understands the position of the British Museum, that a possible return of the sculptures could lead to a situation where “everyone asks for what is on display in the Museum”, but insisted that the Parthenon sculptures are a “special case”.

According to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in 1986 Melina Mercouri, the Greek Minister of Culture and an ardent fighter for the return of the sculptures, was invited by Boris Johnson to the Oxford Union to speak on the subject and at that time was an ardent supporter of return of the sculptures.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis added, in fact, that he will continue to insist on both the government of the United Kingdom and the British Museum on this issue.

Source: AMPE