Greek Foreign Minister Calls for Dialogue With Russia

© REUTERS / Francois LenoirGreek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias - Sputnik International
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Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Kotzias commented on the EU's decision to keep in force the existing sanctions on Russia, saying that the sanctions had not had the anticipated results, but had brought economic problems to a number of European states, including Greece.

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BRUSSELS, January 29 (Sputnik) — The European Union should start dialogue with Moscow instead of imposing new sanctions on Russia over its alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Kotzias said Thursday.

The EU foreign ministers adopted on Thursday a decision to keep in force the existing restrictions targeting individuals and entities allegedly involved in the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis until September 2015, but stopped short of imposing new sanctions.

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Speaking after an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Kotzias emphasized that sanctions against Russia did not have the anticipated results, but brought economic problems to a number of European states, including Greece.

"We are against the introduction of new sanctions at present," the minister said.

The Greek delegation stated at the meeting that the phrase stipulating introduction of new sanctions against Russia should be removed, otherwise the work will not move forward, Kotzias stressed.

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"In the end we agreed on a communique, which does not provide for the introduction of new sanctions against Russia. What it provides is an extension of earlier imposed sanctions, which will expire in September," he added.

 

In spring 2014, the Unites States, the European Union and their allies accused Russia of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict, including the provision of military assistance to independence supporters in the region. Self-proclaimed republics were declared by locals who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government in Kiev.

Since March 2014, the West has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow, targeting not only high-ranking individuals, but also Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in Ukraine's internal crisis and called the language of the sanctions counterproductive.

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