Louis Godart on PM Sunak cancelling his meeting with PM Mitsotakis

Professor Louis Godart speaking with Dimitra Papanou

"Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his interview with BBBC News commenting on the havoc caused by Elgin's theft of the Parthenon Marbles and the constant refusal of the British authorities and the British Museum to return Phidias' sculptures to Greece, used a beautiful image: he said it would be as if the Mona Lisa were torn into two pieces. Therefore, it is necessary to reconstruct what existed before the dismemberment of the temple of the goddess.

I would like to add a suggestion in Mitsotakis' speech: the Mona Lisa is the work of a Renaissance genius, while Phidias' sculptures are masterpieces belonging to the people who invented democracy. In this regard, they are worth much more in the eyes of the world than any other masterpiece produced by people's art.

The British Prime Minister wanted to cancel the meeting with his Greek counterpart for one simple reason, in my humble opinion: he is ashamed and continues to argue before world civilisation that Britain does not intend to return the ill-gotten gains. Mr Sunak, knowing full well that he is wrong, behaves like a vulgar recipient of despicable theft and prefers to get away with those who, like Mitsotakis, demand the return of an asset belonging to Greece for their country. This attitude is unworthy of the Prime Minister of a large country like England.

In 1940 its pilots RAF saved the world in a crucial battle, defeating Nazi planes. Today, however, England does not seem worthy of its past.

May the cries of protest from all over the world open her ears."

Professor Louis Godart, is the former Professor of Aegean Civilization in the Faculty of Letters at the University of Naples Federico II. From February 2002 to 2016 he has been the Counsellor for Artistic Heritage of the President of the Italian Republic. Now he is Counsellor of the Minister of European Affairs.He is also the Chair of the Italian Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, and past President of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.