Mitsotakis visits London – Johnson requests for return of Parthenon Sculptures

Of Dimitris Gatsiou

At a critical juncture in the course of London’s relations with Brussels, the Prime Minister is in the British capital as of today, in order to hold a series of meetings, in the first line of which stands out the four quarters with Boris Johnson.

As government officials note, a few hours before the “meeting” of the two leaders on Downing Street, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to send multiple messages related, precisely, to the need to overcome the difficulties in Britain’s relations with the European Union.

In this context, the Prime Minister will analyze in Boris Johnson both the common European line and the full solidarity of Greece with its partners and Ireland in the relevant discussions that are ongoing and concern the Protocol of Northern Ireland.

Not coincidentally, in the hours before his departure for London, Mr. Mitsotakis made a series of telephone contacts with Ursula von der Layen, Charles Michel and his Irish counterpart, Michel Martin, in order to discuss the single line. The European Union.

In addition to this crucial issue, Mitsotakis’ visit to the British capital and the fourth meeting with Boris Johnson will be an opportunity for Athens to raise Greece’s request for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, a few days after his intervention. Prime Minister from the UNESCO platform.

“Our position is clear. The Sculptures were stolen in the 19th century, they belong to the Acropolis Museum and we must discuss this issue seriously and honestly. The refusal to discuss the issue of Sculptures seems to me, given what has happened regarding the return of cultural treasures, as an anachronistic approach… You must be able to appreciate the beauty of the monument in its fullness.

We are not just talking about any monument, we are talking about a monument that has essentially been “cut” in two, half is in Athens and the other half is in the British Museum. So we are talking about restoring the whole of the monument μαι I am sure that if there was a will on the part of the government (UK) to change our attitude we could reach an arrangement with the British Museum to lend abroad cultural treasures that are not they have never been found outside Greece “, the prime minister stressed, in a recent interview given to the British” The Telegraph “.

According to government officials, the UNESCO decision last September is a particularly positive development for the Greek side, as it recognizes for the first time the transnational character of the dispute in contrast to London’s firm position that Sculptures are an issue between Museums. .

“For the first time in its history, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Commission for the Return of Cultural Property has issued a decision on the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, highlighting the intergovernmental nature of the dispute and deconstructing the British argument that it is an issue between museums.

She even expressed her dissatisfaction with the fact that its resolution remains pending due to the attitude of the United Kingdom. “He urged the United Kingdom to reconsider its stance and enter into a dialogue of good faith with Greece.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will return the request today, noting that it is an issue between the two governments, which must be discussed honestly, while the British government should enter into a dialogue of good faith with our country for the return of the Sculptures. .

In addition to the above issues, the discussions of the two leaders will be dominated by Turkish aggression in the Eastern Mediterranean, developments in Libya (in the aftermath of the Paris Conference) as well as bilateral relations and the expansion of Athens-London cooperation.