ATHENS – Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni, responding to the leader of the main opposition Alexis Tsipras on the Parthenon Marbles, said: “In such an important and national issue, we would expect everyone to be mobilized. However, some choose to proceed based on the only thing they know how to do well, their petty party calculations.”

(Read also: You Cannot Borrow Something That Has Been Stolen from You, SYRIZA Says on Parthenon Marbles)

The full announcement follows:

“The government, from the beginning of its term, acted with seriousness, responsibility and efficiency, in order to meet the national goal of the final return and reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, to the Acropolis Museum. Its actions resulted in the UNESCO decision, in September 2021, which recognized the issue as transnational, the definitive reunification of the Fagan fragment, the strengthening of the international climate and the turning of the British public opinion in favour of the Greek request.

Mr. Tsipras, who for four and a half years as prime minister, did absolutely nothing to promote our national request, the return of the Marbles to Athens, today appears to be worried. He must know that this government, as it has proven many times, knows how to negotiate and achieve its goals. This is what it does in the case of the final return of the Marbles to Athens, based on the permanent position of our country, which is that it does not recognize the British Museum’s possession and ownership of the Marbles. In such an important and national issue, we would expect everyone to be involved. Some people choose in this matter as well, to proceed based on the only thing they know how to do well, their petty party calculations”.