Greek Deputy FM: We need strengthened relations with Russia
by Paul Antonopoulos
Sep. 8, 2020
The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed in a television interview that Greece at this stage needs to re-establish its ties with Russia that were severely weakened by the previous SYRIZA government.
Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis spoke on ANT1 about Russia and the role it could play in the decision by the EU to impose sanctions on Turkey.
Asked to comment on whether Moscow could influence the decision, Varvitsiotis stressed that Russia’s relations with Greece need to be strengthened.
“I think Russia has a special relationship with Turkey. I will tell you that in recent years the link between Greece and Russia has relaxed, especially after the diplomatic moves with the expulsion of Russian diplomats who served in Athens a few years ago and various other moves that have led to the need to re-approach to more strong level,” he said.
In July 2018, the SYRIZA government expelled two Russian diplomats and barred entry of two others on the accusation of undermining the national security of Greece, without giving much more details.
Varvitsiotis made it clear that the NAVTEX for Russian exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, are “traditionally” transmitted from Turkey.
Read more at http://www.defenddemocracy.press/greek-deputy-fm-we-need-strengthened-relations-with-russia/
