British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s last minute cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis over the Parthenon Sculptures this week has caused a diplomatic row between Greece and the UK, with Athens calling Sunak’s decision “unprecedented” and “disrespectful.” Bruce Clark, a contributor to The Economist with a long expertise on Greece and the author of the recent book Athens, City of Wisdom, which dives into the story of Lord Elgin and the Parthenon Sculptures, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this latest move by Downing Street that is putting the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures back in the spotlight.

Bruce Clark is also a member of the BCRPM.

Listen to this episode of the Greek Current Podast.

Janet Suzman, the chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, joined Thanos Davelis on Wednesday 13 October 2022 for a second time on the podcast 'The Greek Current' to discuss whether a deal for the return of the Parthenon Marbles could at last, be on the horizon.

To listen to this podcast visit: Could a deal to return the Parthenon Marbles be on the horizon? (simplecast.com)

Prime Minister Mitsotakis said he believes that the time for such a deal is here and we did hear George Osborne  the Chair of the British Museum Trustees, say those very words in a radio interview with Andrew Marr in June. But Mr Osborne words were about sharing the sculptures: "I think there's a deal to be done, but I think there's a deal to be done where we can tell both stories in Athens and in London." And for many this telling of two stories has worn thin, including BCRPM's member Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, whose letter was published in the Times Letter's Page on  the 18th of June.

Janet Suzman stresses to Thanos that timing is everything and right now UK's political landscape's stormy autumn may not be the ideal time for PM Mitsotakis to ask about a cultural matter when he looks to meets with PM Liz Truss. The  support of King Charless III was also discussed. Janet also mentioned BCRPM's role keeing the topic in the media, and that this continues to add value.

On the plus side, the attitude of the public in Britain continues to be in favour of the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, and this has always been a motivational factor for the campaign.

07 December 2021

Thanos Davelis, Director of Public Affairs for the Hellenic American Leadership Council, talks to Janet Suzman, the chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, on 'The Greek Current' to discuss Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ recent visit to the UK and the momentum it has given to the campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles.

Listen to the podcast here 

THE GREEK CURRENT PODCAST EPISODE NOTES
Is there a new momentum for the return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece? That’s what Janet Suzman, the chair of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, argued in her latest op-ed for Kathimerini. Janet's article came after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the United Kingdom, where he raised the issue of the Parthenon Marbles in his meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Despite Johnson’s refusal, Greece has vowed to use “every means” in its quest to persuade London to relinquish the Parthenon sculptures, with a campaign that will focus on winning over the hearts and minds of Britons. Janet Suzman joins Thanos Davelis on 'The Greek Current' podcast to talk about Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit to the UK and the momentum it has given the campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles.

Read Janet Suzman’s op-ed in Kathimerini here: New momentum for return of Parthenon Marbles.