Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis passionately made the case for the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures during a BBC interview, drawing parallels to slicing Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in two and displaying them in separate museums. The sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, have sparked a longstanding dispute between Greece and the UK since being taken to London in the early 19th century.
“If I told you [to] cut the Mona Lisa in half… do you think your viewers would appreciate the beauty of the painting?”
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis says returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece is about “reunification” not “ownership”
#BBCLauraK https://t.co/DYK0KHQRgx pic.twitter.com/hOJbK84VcR— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 26, 2023
Mitsotakis emphasized the essence of bringing the fragmented Parthenon frieze together under one roof in Greece, comparing the situation to the hypothetical division of the Mona Lisa between the Louvre and the British Museum.
In an interview on the BBC’s flagship Sunday morning politics show, Mitsotakis stressed, “This is not about contested ownership but the reunification of these sculptures that were essentially stolen. It’s an argument for reunification.”
Acknowledging the lack of substantial progress in negotiations, Mitsotakis hinted at discussing the issue with UK leaders during his scheduled meetings with opposition leader Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He affirmed, “I will meet both Keir Starmer and, of course, the Prime Minister tomorrow. And maybe I can let you know afterwards.”
The conversation with the Greek Premier also delved into migration policies across Europe, addressing concerns raised by the Council of Europe regarding a deadly shipwreck off Pylos and its handling by Greek authorities.
Mitsotakis is slated to participate in a Greek investment roadshow by Morgan Stanley and the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday. Later, he plans to meet with UK opposition leader Keir Starmer, followed by an address at a Greek embassy event connected to the office of Nobel poet laureate George Seferis.
The Greek Prime Minister’s agenda for Tuesday includes a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street, aiming to review Greek-British relations and discuss regional and international interests.
