Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes Kyriakos Mitsotakis to 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday. [Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo]
Government sources in Athens have responded positively to the meeting at Downing Street in London of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, particularly as regards the Parthenon Sculptures.
“We welcome the fact that the British government will not stand in the way if there is an agreement with the British Museum,” the sources said after the Mitsotakis-Starmer meeting.
The sources said that the Mitsotakis raised the issue of the sculptures during the 40-minute meeting, which ended shortly after 1.15 p.m. Greek time.
The marbles are part of a 2,500-year-old frieze that was taken from the Acropolis in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and put on display in the British Museum. Athens says they were removed illegally and wants them returned so they can be displayed alongside the rest of the Parthenon sculptures at a purpose-built museum in Athens.
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’s center-left Labour Party replaced the previous Conservative government.
According to the same sources, the two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and expressed mutual willingness to strengthen cooperation.
The prime minister underlined the importance that Greece attaches to Greek-British relations and noted that the meeting is an opportunity to give them a new impetus.
During the meeting, it is understood that the broad spectrum of bilateral cooperation was discussed, with a focus on the economy, shipping and tourism.
The two leaders also discussed the common challenge of migration.
Greece’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2025-2026 was also raised, as were European-British relations, where Greece would like to see more cooperation in the security and defense sectors.