Top Greek diplomat declines comment on British premier’s last-minute cancellation of meeting with Greek counterpart

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Greece’s foreign minister on Monday night declined to comment on an unexpected diplomatic snub in London, when the British premier canceled a meeting with his visiting Greek counterpart at the last minute.

Citing the issue the surprise move was widely but unofficially blamed on, George Gerapetritis said: “I cannot say whether the cancellation was due to the (Parthenon) sculptures question or not. So I cannot comment on this.”

Speaking in a panel at the London School of Economics (LSE), he added: "What I have to say though is it is a matter of principle that we discuss (the issue of the sculptures).”

He said the issue of Athens pushing for the repatriation of the sculptures – also known as the Elgin Marbles – was not the only issue on the Greek delegation’s agenda in London.

Separately, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis on Tuesday called Sunak’s action “unprecedented,” telling private broadcaster SKAI TV: “The move was not only disrespectful to the Greek prime minister but also to the Greek people.”

“We are assuming the obvious, that he (Sunak) was annoyed by comments reiterating the country’s fixed position on the return of the Parthenon sculptures,” Marinakis added.

Calling the move a “foul,” Dimitris Tsiodras, director of the Greek Prime Minister’s press office, told public broadcaster ERT: “Greece is a strong, proud country and could not accept this particular attitude of Mr. Sunak.”

Mitsotakis on Monday night announced that Sunak had scuttled a meeting which was set for Tuesday, saying in a statement: “I express my dismay that the British Prime Minister canceled our scheduled meeting just hours before it was due to take place.”

Sunak was reportedly taken aback by Mitsotakis, in an interview with the BBC, again calling for the return of the Elgin Marbles.

The Parthenon Marbles, originally part of a frieze that decorated the ancient Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in Athens, were removed on the orders of Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, in the early 19th century.

The exquisite ancient Greek sculptures depicting gods, heroes, and mythical creatures have been housed in the British Museum for centuries, drawing millions of visitors annually.

Greece’s efforts for their return began in 1982 when then-Culture Minister Melina Mercouri made an appeal at a UNESCO conference in Mexico.