Him outrageous claim that “the Greeks broke their promise not to raise the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures” articulates, with increasing intensity, London for the “diplomatic foul” of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who inelegantly canceled his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the latter’s statements about the need to reunite the Parthenon sculptures.

The claim is categorically denied by Athens.

“Downing Street thought they had assurances from the Greek government that its prime minister would not raise the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures during his visit to the United Kingdom. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the BBC on Sunday that having some of the treasures, known as the Elginia Marbles, in London and others in Athens was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half. No 10 then canceled the meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Mr. Mitsotakis” reports the BBC.

Transport Minister Mark Harper told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday that it is “regrettable” that there will be no meeting between the two countries after Mr Mitsotakis rejected a secondary offer to meet Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

Asked if the government’s treatment to the Greek leader he was rude, Mr. Harper said that a top-level meeting had been proposed to the Greeks, but “they have the right to have their own opinion.”

Professor Irini Stamatoudi, a former member of the advisory committee of the Ministry of Culture, said on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the attitude of Greece was “spotless and remained unchanged” for years now.

Saying that the UK Prime Minister’s attitude seems ‘no better than Lord Elgin’s’; he continued: “The behavior of Rishi Sunak does not even come close to the behavior of a leader of a great nation that Greece cooperates with on many issues and considers a friend.”

Ms Stamatoudi told the BBC she did not know if there had been an agreement between the two governments not to raise the issue during the London visit. But he added: “It is not possible for the prime minister not to answer questions about the Parthenon Marbles.”

“Mr. Sunak wants to be seen as a defender of the position of marbles in London” comments the BBC. A senior Conservative source said: “Our position is clear – the Elginia Marbles are part of the British Museum’s permanent collection and they belong here.”

However, Mr Mitsotakis told reporters on Monday night that he was “deeply disappointed by the abrupt cancellation” of the meeting, which was scheduled for noon on Tuesday. “Those who firmly believe in the rightness and justice of their positions never hesitate to engage in constructive argument and debate,” he said.

The UK-Greece talks were agreed “on the understanding that the Greeks will not exert public pressure (lobby) for the return of the Elginian Marbles” Sky News also noted earlier in its headline.

“From what I understand, this meeting was agreed on the basis that the Greeks would not exert public pressure for the Elginian Marbles”Sky News journalist Marie Orora reported.

“Over the weekend the Greek Prime Minister spoke about the fact that there is a question of reunification for the marbles that do not exist in Greece, and that it was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half, with half placed in the Louvre and the other half elsewhere. That Mona Lisa analogy may have caused some irritation» commented.

“The (British) government has essentially said that it has a great ally in Greece, is more than happy to work with Greece on issues such as immigration and the economy. However, it is interesting that the (British) Prime Minister decided to cancel this meeting at what the Greeks call the ’11th hour’.” commented the political correspondent of the British network.