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Only
a few days in power and the new Greek government under Alexis Tsipras
shows that is not willing to play the role of the puppet. Through a
statement, the Greek government correctly expressed its
dissatisfaction about the way the EU handled the issue of possible
new sanctions against Russia.
From
Reuters:
The
new Greek government of leftwing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
complained to European Union foreign policy chief Federica
Mogherini on Tuesday, saying it had not been consulted about a
statement on the growing crisis in Ukraine.
In a
rare joint statement, EU leaders voiced concern about the
deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern
Ukraine and condemned the killing of civilians in the
'indiscriminate shelling' of Mariupol. They asked their foreign
ministers to consider possible new sanctions against Russia in
response although a final decision is expected to be left until a
summit next month.
Fresh
from his election victory, Tsipras was sworn in as prime minister
on Monday and only unveiled his cabinet on Tuesday. But his office
said the EU should still have secured consent from Athens before
issuing a statement in the name of European member states. “In
this context, we underline that it does not have our country's
consent. Dissatisfaction with the handling of this was
expressed in a telephone conversation between the prime minister
and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs
Mogherini,” the statement said.
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Greek-Russian
relations were downgraded significantly under previous Antonis
Samaras government. Former government followed immediately Western
sanctions against Russia, something that triggered Russia's response
to block many Greek products from the Russian market.
(http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/08/the-most-faithful-puppets.html)
Tsipras
shows that he is willing to walk towards an opposite direction and
restore the relations with Russians. The latest fast response is not
accidental, as in the critical position of the minister of foreign
affairs has been placed Nikos Kotzias, who is quite known for his
positions concerning a stronger approach between Greece and Russia.
Kotzias
expressed also his "anti-Troika" feelings in the past,
stating that the Troika lenders in Greece serve specific interests,
something that was actually confirmed by a government official three
years later:
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/03/official-troika-in-greece-serves.html
The
leader of the anti-memorandum party EPAM (United People's Front),
Dimitris Kazakis, stated that this was a first positive reaction by
the Greek government, while extends the field of actions that the
government should take, claiming that Tsipras government should use
veto against the rest of the EU in order to stop the escalation of
the slaughter by the neo-nazis in Ukraine, and restore relations with
Russia.
(http://dimitriskazakis.blogspot.gr/2015/01/blog-post_71.html)
On
the other side, Putin shows that he wants to take the opportunity of
the new government in power and restore relations with Greece,
upgrading Russia's role in the East Mediterranean. He rushed to send
congratulations to Tsipras and made previously a move which shows
that he wants to put Greece back in the game:
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/12/fresh-smart-moves-by-putin-in.html
Also
from Moscow Times:
Greece's
new prime minister, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, established
contact with Russia prior to being elected. Like other leaders of
formerly fringe European political parties, Tsipras was received
as a highly honored guest by the Kremlin. The leftist leader met
with Russian officials in Moscow last May, including Valentina
Matviyenko, chair of the Russian parliament's upper house who had
served as Russia's ambassador to Greece in the late 1990s.
Greek
objection to sanctions against Russia is in part motivated by the
losses the country has suffered over Russia's subsequent ban on a
range of food products from the European Union, according to
Syriza officials. Kostas Isihos, the party's foreign policy boss,
told government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Monday that Greek
farmers, whose exports to Russia include fruit and olive oil, had
lost some 430 million euros because of the sanctions.
Putin
warmly congratulated Tsipras on his victory Monday, expressing
confidence “that Russia and Greece will continue to develop
their traditionally constructive cooperation in all areas and will
work together effectively to resolve current European and global
problems,” according to the Kremlin's website. Putin also
referred to “current difficult conditions” and wished Tsipras
success in working in them.
“If
Russia didn't have its own economic crisis, it might be willing to
financially support the new Greek government's anti-austerity
measures,” said Vasily Koltashov, head of the Institute of
Globalization and Social Movements' economic research center. “It
is unlikely that Greece views Russia as a useful partner right
now. Chances are that they view Russia as a partner in [economic]
trouble.”
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Moscow
also shows that seeks to restore relations with Cyprus after the
bail-in fiasco with the Cypriot banks that brought big losses to the
Russian depositors.
From
globalpost:
Moscow
is seeking military facilities on Cyprus, Russian ambassador
Nicosia Stanislav Osadchiy said on Wednesday.
But
Osadchiy said his country's consultations with the foreign
ministry of Cyprus were presently centered on bilateral agreements
to be signed when the eastern Mediterranean island's president,
Nicos Anastasiades, visits Moscow on Feb. 25. Osadchiy did not
specify the kind of facilities Moscow wanted Cyprus to provide.
“Russia
is interested in an agreement providing military facilitation
similar to the ones in place with France and Germany,” Osacdhiy
said. “The matter is being discussed,” he added.
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As
Tsipras stated that the first country he will visit will be Cyprus,
everything shows that we may see in future the shaping of the
geopolitical triangle of Greece-Cyprus-Russia, containing common
interests in the fields of economy, security and energy.
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