The Greek Current

Britain's own goal over the Parthenon Sculptures

Episode Summary

Bruce Clark, a contributor to The Economist, the author of the recent book "Athens, City of Wisdom", which dives into the story of Lord Elgin and the Parthenon Sculptures, and a member of The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM), joins Thanos Davelis to discuss British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s "unprecedented" decision to snub Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the issue of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Episode Notes

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s last minute cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis over the Parthenon Sculptures this week has caused a diplomatic row between Greece and the UK, with Athens calling Sunak’s decision “unprecedented” and “disrespectful.” Bruce Clark, a contributor to The Economist with a long expertise on Greece, the author of the recent book Athens, City of Wisdom, which dives into the story of Lord Elgin and the Parthenon Sculptures, and a member of The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM), joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this latest move by Downing Street that is putting the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures back in the spotlight.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Britain’s pointless diplomatic faux pas with Greece

Athens accuses British PM Sunak of disrespect to Greeks as marbles row deepens

Greece denies promising not to raise Parthenon Sculptures on UK visit

Sunak cancellation politically motivated

Turkey expects to ratify Sweden's NATO accession 'within weeks' - Swedish minister

Erdogan to visit Budapest next month as Turkey and Hungary hold up Sweden’s membership in NATO

Athens under EU pressure over Albania