In Row Over Parthenon Sculptures, Greece Says Britain Showing ‘Lack of Respect' 

A photograph shows the Parthenon Temple at the top of the Acropolis hill in Athens on November 28, 2023. (AFP)
A photograph shows the Parthenon Temple at the top of the Acropolis hill in Athens on November 28, 2023. (AFP)
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In Row Over Parthenon Sculptures, Greece Says Britain Showing ‘Lack of Respect' 

A photograph shows the Parthenon Temple at the top of the Acropolis hill in Athens on November 28, 2023. (AFP)
A photograph shows the Parthenon Temple at the top of the Acropolis hill in Athens on November 28, 2023. (AFP)

Greece's government on Tuesday accused Britain of showing "a lack of respect" by abruptly cancelling a meeting between their leaders at short notice in a dispute over ancient Greek sculptures brought to Britain in the early 19th century.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled a planned wide-ranging meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the latter raised the decades-old demand for the return of the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum.

"This is not common, we are trying to find a precedent and we can't," said Pavlos Marinakis, a spokesman for the Greek government. "It shows a lack of respect to the prime minister but also to the country he represents."

Greece has repeatedly asked the British Museum to permanently return the 2,500-year-old sculptures that British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

About half the surviving marble works are in London, and the rest in a museum under the Acropolis in Athens.

Appearing on the BBC over the weekend, Mitsotakis compared the separation of the sculptures to cutting the Mona Lisa in half, a characterization rejected by British government.

Marinakis said the planned talks between the two leaders were meant to have been on global issues, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration and the climate crisis.

Sunak's decision to cancel the meeting was also criticized by some British opposition parties and a campaign group backed by British politicians from different parties who want to resolve the issue.

The group, the Parthenon Project, has proposed a deal that would see the sculptures reunified in Athens - without Britain and Greece needing to agree on who owns them.

Ed Vaizey, a former Conservative culture minister who advises the group, said that Sunak's action was a "plot twist" given Britain's previous stance that resolving the issue was a matter for the British Museum itself.

"The prime minister has put himself at the front and center of row that he didn't really need to put himself at the front and center of," Vaizey told Sky News.

"I don't think the prime minister needed really to intervene in this way and it hasn't particularly helped our relationships with Greece."

Sunak's office on Monday said Britain's relationship with Greece was "hugely important" and that the two countries needed to work together on global challenges.



Saudi Tourism Authority Launches Wonders of Arabia Exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka

Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)
Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)
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Saudi Tourism Authority Launches Wonders of Arabia Exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka

Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)
Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) launched on Thursday its participation at Expo 2025 Osaka with the “Wonders of Arabia” exhibition, prominently featured within the Kingdom’s pavilion.

Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan.

The “Wonders of Arabia” exhibition features diverse sections designed to immerse visitors in the heart of the Kingdom. Guests can experience Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage through interactive displays, engaging photo booths, and live demonstrations of both Saudi and Japanese calligraphy.

Workshops are also offered on traditional handicrafts, including pottery making and decorative arts.

Dedicated zones highlight the unique attractions of Diriyah, Riyadh, Aseer, Jeddah, the Red Sea, and AlUla.

A striking “Origami Camel” sculpture serves as a symbolic representation of the deep cultural ties between the two nations.

The event includes a special collaboration with the iconic Japanese character Doraemon. As part of this partnership, the first 250 visitors daily who participate in the exhibition’s competitions will receive limited-edition Doraemon items.

Sports enthusiasts are invited to take photos inside a recreation of the locker room of global football star Cristiano Ronaldo and explore his personal recommendations for Saudi Arabia’s top destinations.

The exhibition also offers an interactive virtual reality experience simulating Formula 1 races.

Additional features include dedicated highlights on the Esports World Cup, currently underway in Riyadh, and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2034, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia.