LONDON (AP) \u2014 Greece\u2019s prime minister visited London on Tuesday for his first top-level U.K. meeting since a spat last year over the contested\u00a0Parthenon Marbles, as the British Museum said talks with Greece on a deal over the antiquities are constructive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer\u2019s office said the fate of the marbles was not on the British leader\u2019s agenda at a meeting with premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis focused on migration, the war in Ukraine and efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Greek officials, though, suggested the subject would be discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The contested marbles are part of a 2,500-year-old frieze that was taken from Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and put on display in the\u00a0British Museum. Athens says they were removed illegally and\u00a0wants them returned\u00a0so they can be displayed alongside the rest of the Parthenon sculptures at a purpose-built museum in Athens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Relations between Britain and Greece have thawed since then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with Mitsotakis at the last minute in November 2023 after the Greek leader compared the removal of the sculptures from Athens to cutting Leonardo da Vinci\u2019s \u201cMona Lisa\u201d in half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sunak accused Mitsotakis of trying to \u201cgrandstand and relitigate issues of the past\u201d and reneging on a promise not to bring up the issue in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
British Museum Chairman George Osborne, a former Conservative politician, later suggested Sunak had thrown a \u201chissy fit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The British Museum is banned by law from giving the marbles back to Greece, but extensive talks have been held on a long-term loan arrangement. The Guardian reported Tuesday that the negotiations had made progress since Starmer\u2019s center-left Labour Party has replaced the previous Conservative government after an election in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starmer has pledged to reset Britain\u2019s relations with its European neighbors after years of acrimony over the U.K.\u2019s departure from the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the start of Tuesday\u2019s meeting inside 10 Downing St., Starmer said he hoped to \u201cbuild on our strong bilateral relationship and to talk about our common issues.\u201d Mitsotakis said Greece and Britain would build on their partnership during \u201cturbulent times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starmer spokesman Dave Pares said the government \u201chas no plans to change the law to permit a permanent move of the Parthenon sculptures,\u201d but that a decision on a loan agreement was \u201centirely for the British Museum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The British Museum said talks on \u201ca Parthenon partnership\u201d were \u201congoing and constructive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a weekend interview with Greece\u2019s Antenna television, Mitsotakis said \u201cdiscussion with the British Museum remains active,\u201d but did not offer details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI firmly believe that the moment of the return of the sculptures will come,\u201d he said. \u201cI cannot specify when, nor at what speed that return will take place. Because I do not think we can believe that it will happen overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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