The moment when the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis she hasn’t even exchanged a glance as she is seen with him British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the UN COP28 conference about the climate in Dubai, spoke and exchanged handshakes with Labor leader Keir Starmer.

Mitsotakis - Starmer

As reported by Pavlos Tsimas who is on the scene documenting all the developments from the front and backstage of the climate conference, this is a chance meeting between Mr Mitsotakis and Mr Starmer as they entered and exited the conference venue. The two sat a little aside, talked and laughed widely.

It is recalled that the Labor leader severely criticized the British Prime Minister in the House of Commons, after Rishi Sounak’s decision to cancel his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, even stating that “never mind the British Museum – it is the Prime Minister who has lost apparently his marbles (his minds)’.

In particular, Starmer stated that the Greek Prime Minister came to London to meet Mr. Sounak, “a fellow NATO member, an economic ally. One of our most important partners in tackling illegal immigration. But instead of using this meeting to discuss these serious issues, she tried to humiliate him and canceled it at the last minute.”

“Why so little politics?” the Labor leader then asked.

💥HORRIBLE moment for Sunak at #PMQs.

Starmer: “I met with the Greek PM, we talked about the economy, security, immigration. I also told him we won’t be changing the law regarding the marbles. It’s really not that difficult.”

Look at Sunak’s expression at the end. Beaten. ~AA pic.twitter.com/mAHVmwMfYY

— Best for Britain (@BestForBritain) November 29, 2023

“Let’s take a closer look at our King’s tie”: Journalist Laura Kunsberg “responds” to Sunak

“It is worth taking a closer look at the King today who wore a tie with the Greek flag and while the diplomatic confrontation between the British and the Greek Prime Minister is raging,” she commented in a post on X BBC journalist Laura Kunsberg to whom Kyriakos Mitsotakis granted an interview last Kyriaki, where he paralleled the Parthenon Sculptures with the … cut in two Mona Lisa.

Worth looking closely, the King today, wearing a Greek flag tie at COP, after days of a simmering diplomatic row btw UK and Greek PM 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/CEwaFmBYW4

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) December 1, 2023

It is noted that King Charles appeared at the 28th UN Climate Conference in Dubai wearing a tie with the Greek flag and a blue and white handkerchief

Sunak insists on the Parthenon Sculptures: their stay in London is a matter of law

At the same time, Mr Rishi Sunak reiterated his firm position in favor of the stay of the Sculptors of the Parthenon at the British Museum, citing the 1963 law that prohibits the permanent removal of exhibits from the London institution.

On the plane to COP28 meeting in Dubai the British prime minister was asked by the British journalists accompanying him about the matter and he replied:

“It is very clear as matter of law that marbles cannot be returned and we have been clear about that. I think the British Museum website itself says that for loans (of exhibits) to take place the recipient must recognize the legal ownership of the lending country and I don’t think the Greeks have indicated that they are in any way willing to do that this. Our view and position on this is clear: the marbles were legally acquired at the time.”

The British prime minister also rejected claims of a “hysterical” reaction by British Museum chairman George Osborne, saying “no, no”.

“I said what I had to say about this in parliament the other day and now I’m focused on delivering the things people care about.”he added.

A spokesman for Labor leader Keir Starmer said: as prime minister “would spend no time legislating on the issue”but also that “wouldn’t stand in the way” in a mutually beneficial agreement between the British Museum and Athens.