A cupboard minister has insisted the UK has “very good relations” with Greece regardless of a deepening row over the Elgin Marbles.
Steve Barclay, the atmosphere secretary, advised Sky News “sometimes people want to make this up into a bigger issue than it is” after Rishi Sunak cancelled a gathering together with his Greek counterpart.
The prime minister is dealing with a backlash from opposition MPs and inside his personal get together over the snub – branded by one former senior diplomat as “ludicrous, petulant behaviour”.
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The historic Parthenon Sculptures are housed in London’s British Museum however Athens has lengthy campaigned for his or her return.
Downing Street has accused the Greek authorities of breaking a promise to not increase the difficulty throughout Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s go to to the UK this week – however they are saying no such assurances got.
Asked concerning the Greek overseas minister’s feedback final evening that the cancelled assembly is a “massive diplomatic indiscretion”, Mr Barclay sought to downplay any tensions.
He advised Sky News: “I think the British Museum’s a jewel in the crown, it’s something that people from across the world come and enjoy, and we’re very proud of.
“So, I do not assume anybody desires to relitigate one thing that is been settled for an enormous period of time.
“We have very good relations with the Greek government.
“In phrases of the Elgin Marbles, they’re a part of the British Museum. That’s one thing that is been a continuing for a lot of many years. I do not assume anybody sees any want for that to alter.”
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The feedback got here because the Greeks confirmed no indicators of letting the difficulty drop, with overseas minister Giorgos Gerapetritis reiterating his nation’s declare to the marbles as he attended a NATO summit alongside overseas secretary Lord David Cameron.
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He mentioned the declare relies “not only on history, not only on justice but it’s a claim of ecumenical cultural values”.
However he mentioned: “Irrespective of this, it is my understanding that we need to work on a bilateral basis with the UK and we’re going to serve this purpose in the future in order to deepen this long-standing history we have, the two nations.”
Greece has lengthy demanded the return of the historic works, which had been eliminated by Lord Elgin from Athens within the early nineteenth century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
Part of friezes that adorned the two,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, the sculptures have been displayed on the British Museum for greater than 200 years, though some stay in a purpose-built museum in Athens.
On Sunday, Mr Mitsotakis advised the BBC he deliberate to boost the difficulty in a gathering scheduled to happen with Mr Sunak on Tuesday, saying the scenario was just like the Mona Lisa portray being minimize in half.
Downing Street mentioned for this reason they cancelled nose to nose talks, because it went towards obvious “assurances” the Greeks gave that they might not use the UK go to as a “public platform” for the sculptures’ return.
However the Greek labour minister, Adonis Georgiades, advised Sky News “this kind of agreement cannot ever happen with any Greek prime minister – and certainly with Kyriakos Mitsotakis”.
Greek sources mentioned many geopolitical points had been excessive on the agenda, together with stopping migrant sea crossings.
The row intensified final evening after a spokesman for the Greek prime minister claimed there have been “domestic reasons” behind Mr Sunak’s actions – pointing to him being “quite behind in the polls” forward of a possible normal election subsequent yr.
The debate about whether or not to return objects dropped at the UK throughout the time of the British Empire has develop into a battleground within the so-called tradition wars that Mr Sunak’s Conservative Party has been accused of making an attempt to use.
While Greece maintains the sculptures had been stolen, the 1963 British Museum Act prohibits the elimination of objects from the establishment’s assortment.
However British Museum chairman George Osborne, a former Tory chancellor, is exploring a mortgage deal that would permit the marbles to be displayed in Greece in an try and settle the matter.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer – who met with Mr Mitsotakis this week – is claimed to be supportive of this plan.
However Downing Street is against it and Sky News understands authorities officers have mentioned authorized methods they might block any export of the Elgin Marbles.
Source: information.sky.com”