In a statement released following the meeting in Athens between Panos Kammenos, leader of the Independent Greeks party, and Giorgos Lillikas, leader and founder of the Citizens Movement of Cyprus, and former Cypriot Presidential candidate, denounced the EU support for the unelected, nondemocratic government of Ukraine and proposal for sanctions against Russia. They also attack the European Union bailout and memorandums imposed on Greece and Cyprus.
Kammenos stated that the two leaders expressed concern for the situation "that has emerged in Ukraine with the recognition of an undemocratically non-elected government from the EU side" and expressed that they are "particularly concerned by the debate that is imposing an embargo, particularly with regard to equipment, because this potential embargo essentially affect only two countries in the European Union: Cyprus and Greece."
Lillikas, who could become the next President of Cyprus, for his part said, "Developments in Europe and especially in Ukraine are of serious concern, because they directly affect our national interests, and the interests of Greece and Cyprus. Cyprus, unfortunately, in recent years, and particularly over the last year, has hurt the relationship maintained over time with Russia, a country which has traditionally been a constant ally of Cyprus and supported us whenever needed and within the Security Council, exercising the veto to protect our national interests. Any decision by the European Union for sanctions against Russia, whether they are military or economic we believe should be opposed by the Cypriot government. By no means should we upset or hurt even more the relationship Cyprus - Russia and certainly the relationship of Greece - Russia. We believe that over any collaborations, over our involvement in any organizations, is our national interests and our decisions should be taken by a single criterion: the service of our national interests. "
On the question of the bailout and the Memorandums imposed on Greece and Cyprus, they denounced them and both called for their cancellation. Kammenos declared that the Troika's brutal austerity policies have "turned an economic crisis into a humanitarian crisis and I am very afraid that it will turn into a national crisis."
Expressing his full agreement with Kammenos, Lillikas declared, the "major economic collapse and crisis in Cyprus and Greece calls for the necessity for immediate cancelling as soon as possible of the Memorandum, to regain our national sovereignty so we can decide independently on our national interests."
Both expressed grave concern over the current negotiations between Turkish-occupied Cyprus and the Greek Republic (the talks have been brokered by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland) which seeks to revive the so-called Annan plan, which the Greek Cypriots had rejected in a referendum.
Germans, Czechs Oppose Sanctions Against Russia
While the drumbeat for Western economic sanctions against Russia over the Ukrainian coup is continuing, Germany and the Czech Republic have categorically voiced opposition against sanctions, on the eve of today's meeting of EU heads of state and government in Brussels, which has sanctions on its agenda.
Volker Treier of the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) opposed sanctions against Russia, as only causing damage to German business - which has already suffered a 5% drop in 2013 in trade with Russia. The only sanctions that would make sense, if at all, would be visa sanctions, Treier said.
Rainer Lindner of German industry's Ostausschuss, the lobby for cooperation with the states of the former Soviet Union, also rejected sanctions: "The national economies of Germany and Russia meanwhile are so interconnected, that sanctions would certainly cause counter-sanctions." And these would hit German firms that are already suffering under the conflict, such as Metro and Volkswagen, visibly, Lindner warned, pointing to the fact that 300,000 jobs in Germany depend on industrial and trade relations with Russia alone. For the Americans, sanctions are easy to talk about, because the U.S. is largely independent of Russian deliveries of natural gas and oil, whereas Germany imports 40% of its natural gas and 35% of its crude oil from Russia, Lindner added.
Also, Gernot Erler, Russian relations coordinator of Germany, rejected sanctions, on grounds that these would provoke counter-sanctions, most likely in the energy sector.
The Czech Republic cannot halt its trade relations with Russia over the Ukrainian developments, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told reporters today in reaction to remarks by Martin Stropnicky (ANO) and Jiri Dienstbier (CSSD), ministers of defense and legislation, respectively, in Sobotka's center-left cabinet, saying that in view of the Russian invasion of Crimea they cannot imagine a Russian company winning the tender for the Czech nuclear power plant at Temelin.
"We cannot be expected to burn down all bridges and scrap all our trade relations with Russia over the [Crimean] crisis. Such a step would be very imprudent, and I believe that no one expects us to take it," Sobotka told journalists during a visit to Moravia-Silesia.
He said the Czech Republic should seek a diplomatic solution to the tension between Ukraine and Russia, instead of imposing trade sanctions that would afflict not only common Russians and Ukrainians, but also Czechs.
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter