Event that confused Europe: Prime Minister Sunak canceled the meeting with Mitsotakis at the last minute

Cold winds blow between England and Greece…

When the planned meeting in London between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak was canceled at the last minute, tensions between the two countries soared.

Sunak’s last-minute cancellation of the meeting on the Parthenon Temple marbles, on display at the world-famous British Museum in England, increased tension.

While Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis criticized Sunak’s cancellation of the meeting, Mitsotakis said: “I would like to express my displeasure that the British Prime Minister canceled our planned meeting hours before the meeting. Greece’s stance on the Parthenon statues is well known. I was hoping to have the opportunity to discuss this with my British counterpart. “No one who believes in the truth and justice of their positions will ever be afraid to face arguments,” he said.

“LIKE MONA LISA DIVIDED IN TWO”

Greece has repeatedly called on the British Museum to permanently return the 2,500-year-old pieces that British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the temple when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.

Mitsotakis said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday that talks on this issue were not progressing quickly. Mitsotakis claimed that keeping the statues in the British Museum would be like “splitting the Mona Lisa in two.”

A British government official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the discussion over the marbles meant it was not appropriate for the meeting to continue. Previously, Sunak’s spokesman said there were no plans to return the statues.