Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed his excellent relationship with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Parthenon Sculptures, the post-Brexit era, the Trump administration, and many other pressing issues. “I always had a very good relationship with Kyriakos, he’s an exceptional guy. I completely understand why as Prime Minister of Greece he raises this issue. And I understand the sensitivity of the Greeks on this matter. I think it’s crazy that Sunak didn’t receive him. I really never understood that move” he explained, in an interview given to Economist Impact SE Europe Events, within the framework of the 5th Metropolitan Summit organized by the Economist in Thessaloniki, regarding the Parthenon Sculptures and Greece-Britain consultations during Rishi Sunak’s premiership.
“After Brexit I had many enemies. With the coronavirus parties, they simply found something to hit me with” Johnson emphasized, while elsewhere in his interview about the American president he underlined: “If Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize, he must increase pressure on Putin“.
About the British Conservatives he also noted: “The Tories are the most successful party in Europe. More successful even than PASOK…”
Boris Johnson on the sculptures: “A very difficult issue for us, and that’s what I told Kyriakos”
“If you rip out the heart of the British Museum (by returning the Parthenon Sculptures) then you create a huge precedent. You’d have to send back exhibits to Iraq, to Nigeria, to Egypt. It would be a disaster for the museum. I’m very sorry, but this is also a very difficult issue for us. And that’s what I told Kyriakos (Mitsotakis) when I received him at Downing Street“, emphasizes former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in an interview given to Economist Impact SE Europe Events, within the framework of the 5th Metropolitan Summit organized by the Economist in Thessaloniki, clarifying: “I always had a very good relationship with Kyriakos, he’s an exceptional guy. I completely understand why as Prime Minister of Greece he raises this issue. And I understand the sensitivity of the Greeks on this matter. I think it’s crazy that Sunak didn’t receive him. I really never understood that move“.
The former British Prime Minister states categorically that he never had second thoughts about his country’s exit from the European Union, which he defends enthusiastically even today. “I disagree with ChatGPT… I didn’t tip the scales for Brexit“, he emphasizes regarding his own contribution to the developments.
On the parties during the pandemic
Referring to the parties during the pandemic which cost him politically, Johnson characteristically states: “What happened was that after Brexit I had many enemies. They found something to hit me with“.
Regarding the Ukraine front, he expresses the view that breaking the deadlock “will take more time, as we’re not doing enough about it“. He adds: “Trump did well imposing sanctions on India. We in Europe, why haven’t we utilized the 300 billion from Russian assets? I find it annoying that Europeans constantly complain about Trump. However, I also find it disgusting that Americans treated Putin as if he were superior to Zelensky. If Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize, he must increase pressure on Putin“.
Regarding the Conservative Party’s prospects, he comments: “The Tories will return, as they always do. We are the most successful political party in Europe. Even more successful than PASOK…“. Asked about his political future, he characteristically responds: “I have a very happy life at the moment, trying to buy a new kitchen for my wife and some other chores…“.
He speaks warmly about Greece: “The Greeks are heroes, they spend among the highest percentages on defense (…) I admire what Greece has done on migration, in Britain we wouldn’t have managed it (…) I had fantastic holidays in Greece, a country with fantastic people“.
