Mitsotakis insists: The request for the Parthenon Sculptures is not a flare-What Johnson said | Skai.gr

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London, Thanassis Gavos

The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean centered on Turkish provocation and the demand for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures were the main points of the discussion that lasted about an hour in Downing Street that Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Boris Johnson had.

The Greek Prime Minister touched on regional issues such as the Cyprus issue and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. Regarding the former, according to information, he made clear to the British Prime Minister the position of the Greek side that the two-state solution approach is unacceptable and can not be a starting point for negotiations.

He pointed out the uncompromising Turkish stance and the challenges in Varosi and the EEZ, and said that the cancellation of the schemes in the besieged city is an essential condition for the success of the efforts to restart the negotiations.

He added that the terms of the game cannot be changed and that the Crans Montana acquis is the basis on which progress in the Cyprus issue must be built.

More generally, with regard to the Eastern Mediterranean, he noted the destabilizing role of Ankara, which leaves no room for optimism for dialogue, for which Greece is always ready, provided that respect for international law (including the law of the sea), sovereignty and sovereign rights of.

Regarding the Sculptures, Mr. Mitsotakis clarified to his interlocutor that their reunification is an important issue for the Greek government and for him personally.

After the meeting, the Greek Prime Minister stated: “Our request is not a flare. We will insist methodically to build the necessary foundations and the British public opinion on the need to reunite with the Sculptures of the Acropolis Museum. It is an important issue for our bilateral relations. It is not just a legal issue, it is primarily a matter of value and politics and we will use all means to achieve our goal. “

Mr. Johnson, as expected from the Greek side, reiterated the firm British position that the issue of the Sculptures concerns the commissioners of the British Museum and not his government.

The two leaders also discussed the tension it is creating in the Euro-British
implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol complementing the Brexit agreement. In fact, government sources stressed that presenting the common front of the EU, Mr. Mitsotakis conveyed to Boris Johnson that a possible unilateral suspension of the protocol invoking Article 16 will face the whole European reaction, with a very likely suspension of the entire trade agreement.

The discussion began with the environment, with Mr. Mitsotakis congratulating Mr. Johnson on organizing the Glasgow COP26 climate conference and estimating, as reported, that as much progress as possible was made in a complex multilateral conference. In fact, the prospect of cooperation for the operation of offshore wind farms was put on the table.

Messrs. Mitsotakis and Johnson also addressed the management and challenges of the pandemic.

From the Greek side, the meeting was attended by the Member of Parliament for ND, Tasos Hadjivassiliou, the Ambassador of Greece to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Ioannis Raptakis, Ambassador Anna-Maria-Eleni Boura – Diplomatic Office of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister Finance Office of the Prime Minister, Alexis Patelis.

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