Greek Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou sent a letter to her British counterpart, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright, asking for the opening of negotiations to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles to Athens.
The move came seemingly out of nowhere as Athens was deep in its summer slumber and the government was barely up and running with the vast majority of Greeks on summer vacation, less than a week after the August 15th “Panagia” celebrations.
But a closer look at what’s happening in London and Brussels shows that perhaps the timing of Koniordou’s letter was very well-planned.
Negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom over the future of the relationship are in the final stages with each side aiming to protect its own interests and come out with an advantage.
The British government has even released a series of documents to its citizens on what a “no-deal” Brexit would mean for them, but this is the worst case scenario and one that is unlikely, said numerous government officials.
The British want and need the best possible outcome of these negotiations to maintain the balance that has existed over the past 40+ years with Europe.
And Britain needs European allies and support at the moment, evident at the feverish diplomacy that is taking place on numerous levels between Britain and several European nations both in London, as well as throughout the continent.
All EU member states– including Greece– will need to approve any Brexit deal that is negotiated.
And as unrelated to Brexit as the Parthenon Marbles might be, they could be an important key in assuring the Brits that Greece will be an advocate for a positive outcome to Brexit negotiations.
And perhaps, just perhaps, the Greek government knows this and has played its card to London.
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1 comment
Two important pieces of are displayed in the Louvre and other sculptural fragments from the Parthenon can be found far and wide across countries of the EU, but the Greek government only ever seems to concern itself with those owned by Britain.