EU must halt spasmodic bids on Russia: Greece

Greece has urged the European Union to halt its "spasmodic" measures against Russia as the new Greek government has refused to approve an EU statement threatening fresh sanctions against Moscow.

"The EU must finally consider what it wants to do with Russia on a long-term basis... instead of reacting in a morally direct, correct, but spasmodic fashion," Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said in an interview with the semi-official Athens News Agency.

He added that his country cannot sever its “historic” relations with Moscow but “it can play a role to mediate and develop negotiations between" Russia and Ukraine.

The foreign minister further warned that the EU is triggering more instability in the region with its actions.

"This destabilization will cross the Russian-Ukrainian border, reach the Middle East and cross into North Africa, a sort of sickle through which tens of thousands of refugees, jihadists, diseases and all sorts of dangers will emerge," Kotzias said.

EU’s bans extension against Russia

EU foreign ministers finished their emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday after they failed to adopt fresh sanctions against Russia.

Foreign ministers of the 28-nation bloc extended visa bans and asset freezes on a number of Russian and Ukrainian officials until September. The bans were enforced in March 2014 after Western governments accused Russia of annexing Crimea.

Some EU member states, including Greece, have voiced concern over the adoption of new sanctions on Russia as they may take their toll on weaker European economies.

Greece not a "pariah state"

Kotzias also emphasized that Greece could not be ignored in EU affairs and should not be treated as a "pariah state" simply because of its debts.

At the previous meeting of European Council of foreign ministers, “my colleagues understood that they cannot behave towards Greece as if it were a pariah state because it owes money," the foreign minister said, adding, "Owing money is one thing, and abandoning one's rights in the EU is quite another."

In 2010, Greece suffered severe budget cuts in return for a €240-billion (USD 270 billion) bailout from the troika.

After Greece’s new Prime Minister Alex Tsipras was appointed, EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) inspectors announced their preparedness to return to Greece to finish their final stage of inspection under the bailout program.

The new anti-austerity government of Athens, however, refused the inspectors’ return and disbursement of over 7 billion euros in pending financial aid.

SF/KA/SS

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