UK's Starmer hosts Greek leader but says Parthenon Marbles are not on the agenda

LONDON (AP) — Greece’s prime minister visited London on Tuesday for his first top-level U.K. meeting since a spat last year over the contested Parthenon Marbles, as the British Museum said talks with Greece on a deal over the antiquities are constructive.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said the fate of the marbles was not on the British leader’s agenda at a meeting with premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis focused on migration, the war in Ukraine and efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Greek officials, though, suggested the subject would be discussed.

The contested marbles are part of a 2,500-year-old frieze that was taken from Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and put on display in the British Museum. Athens says they were removed illegally and wants them returned so they can be displayed alongside the rest of the Parthenon sculptures at a purpose-built museum in Athens.

Relations between Britain and Greece have thawed since then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with Mitsotakis at the last minute in November 2023 after the Greek leader compared the removal of the sculptures from Athens to cutting Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” in half.

Sunak accused Mitsotakis of trying to “grandstand and relitigate issues of the past” and reneging on a promise not to bring up the issue in public.

British Museum Chairman George Osborne, a former Conservative politician, later suggested Sunak had thrown a “hissy fit.”

The British Museum is banned by law from giving the marbles back to Greece, but extensive talks have been held on a long-term loan arrangement. The Guardian reported Tuesday that the negotiations had made progress since Starmer’s center-left Labour Party has replaced the previous Conservative government after an election in July.

Starmer has pledged to reset Britain’s relations with its European neighbors after years of acrimony over the U.K.’s departure from the European Union.

At the start of Tuesday's meeting inside 10 Downing St., Starmer said he hoped to “build on our strong bilateral relationship and to talk about our common issues.” Mitsotakis said Greece and Britain would build on their partnership during “turbulent times.”

Starmer spokesman Dave Pares said the government “has no plans to change the law to permit a permanent move of the Parthenon sculptures,” but that a decision on a loan agreement was “entirely for the British Museum.”

The British Museum said talks on “a Parthenon partnership” were “ongoing and constructive.”

In a weekend interview with Greece’s Antenna television, Mitsotakis said “discussion with the British Museum remains active,” but did not offer details.

“I firmly believe that the moment of the return of the sculptures will come," he said. “I cannot specify when, nor at what speed that return will take place. Because I do not think we can believe that it will happen overnight.”

Gatopoulos reported from Athens.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, pose for a photograph ahead of their meeting inside of 10 Downing Street in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Justin Tallis/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis to 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis leaves 10 Downing Street after meeting Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis to 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, pose for a photograph ahead of their meeting inside of 10 Downing Street in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Justin Tallis/Pool Photo via AP)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jordan Kyrou scored twice and Dylan Holloway had a goal and assist to help lift the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.

Robert Thomas also had an empty-net goal for the Blues, who are on a four-game point streak.

Kyrou and Holloway gave the Blues a 2-0 lead and scored 39 seconds apart during four-on-four play. Kyrou scored at 18:04 after his rebound went off Mark Scheifele’s skate, and Holloway notched his eighth of the season when he put in his own rebound past Connor Hellebuyck at 18:43.

Kyrou made it 3-0 at 6:38 of the third when Holloway, who was sitting on the ice, sent him a pass in the high slot.

Holloway extended his point streak to four games (four goals and three assists).

Joel Hofer made 22 saves for St. Louis, and Hellebuyck stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced for the Jets.

Scheifele was the lone goal-scorer for the Jets, who have lost four consecutive games and are 1-5-0 in their past six.

Blues: Holloway and Kyrou were the engines propelling St. Louis. Kyrou finished with seven shots on goal and hit a post.

Jets: Winnipeg only won 36.2% of faceoffs and had a hard time getting pucks on net as the Blues blocked 14 shots.

The Jets were already having a sluggish second period when Kyrou and Holloway scored 39 seconds apart.

The Blues have picked up points in their past four games (3-0-1) — all under new head coach Jim Montgomery since he was hired on Nov. 24.

Jets: Visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, the same day the Blues visit the Calgary Flames.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a St. Louis Blues shot as Logan Stanley (64) slides in front of the net during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Canada Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) makes a save on a Winnipeg Jets shot as Cole Perfetti (91) looks for the rebound during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Canada Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on St. Louis Blues' Radek Faksa (12) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) makes a save on a Winnipeg Jets shot during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday December 3, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)