A meeting between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Greek counterpart was abruptly canceled over a spat relating to the repatriation of the Parthenon marbles, which are housed in London’s British Museum and that both countries claim as their own.

It has become impossible for the meeting to go ahead on account of commentary regarding the historical antiquities that took place prior to it, according to one senior Conservative Party source, asking to remain anonymous when discussing matters of diplomacy.

“I express my annoyance for the fact that the British Prime Minister canceled our scheduled meeting just hours before it was due to take place,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a statement sent by his office Monday night. The meeting had been scheduled for midday Tuesday.

“Greece’s positions on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures are well known. I was hoping to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart as well, along with the major challenges of the international situation: Gaza, Ukraine, Climate crisis, migration,” Mitsotakis said.

“If I told you that you would cut the Mona Lisa in half, and you will have half of it at the Louvre and half of it at the British Museum, do you think your viewers would appreciate the beauty of the painting?” Mitsotakis had said in a BBC interview one day prior.

Those who believe in the accuracy of their positions shouldn’t be afraid of hearing opposing points of view, the Greek premier said in his Monday statement.

The Greek premier’s comments did not deviate from statements he had made on the issue in the past and reflect the Greeks’ fixed positions on the issue, a senior Greek source said, adding that in any case the matter doesn’t concern the British government but the British Museum.

A meeting between Mitsotakis and UK opposition leader Keir Starmer went ahead on Monday as planned.

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