Photo: eurocheddar.com
The ruling radical left SYRIZA has found an unexpected ally in Golden Dawn, not only in terms of the probable change in Greece’s geopolitical orientation but also regarding the suspension of the privatisations initiated by previous governments.
A message of the neo-Nazi formation entitled "No to the sanctions on Russia, no to the privatisation" states the following:
"One of the firm positions of Golden Dawn that the party has submitted to parliament and the public is that Greece must not take part in the sanctions of the European Union and the United States on Russia. The national interests and geopolitical conditions require this position.
As for privatisation, which we believe is selling off our country, our position on the privatisation of the port of Piraeus and the Public Power Corporation (DEI) is known. We also believe it is important to return the so-called "small DEI" to the Greek people."
After the sharp reaction of the cabinet to the fact that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini had not consulted Athens before issuing an opinion on Russia's policy in Ukraine, today Europe is awaiting the position of Greece in the vote associated with the imposition of new sanctions on Moscow.
According to sources, it is expected that, at today's extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states, which is held in connection with the deepening crisis in eastern Ukraine, new Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias will express reservations about the expansion of the European Union sanctions on Russia.
According to the disseminated draft decision, the European Union intends to extend the sanctions "against those who have put at risk the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" until December 2015. At the same time, a European source said that Brussels is preparing to add to the blacklist names of more persons who are the target of the sanctions.
Kotzias had hinted the intentions of Athens immediately after the oath taking of the members of the new cabinet on Tuesday, stating that the position of Greece during today's vote would be "democratic." For his part, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Nikos Houndis said on Wednesday that Greece does not agree with the spirit of sanctions on Russia, explaining that they have negative consequences for the economy of the country.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis has kept his promise to continue to write in his blog, expressing his opinion on the dispute between Athens and Brussels. "I am not qualified to speak on foreign affairs but, nonetheless, I must share this with you at a personal level. Our Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias briefed that on his first day at the job he heard in the news bulletins that the EU had approved new sanctions on Russia unanimously. The problem is that he and the new Greek government were never asked! So, clearly, the issue was not whether our new government agrees or not with fresh sanctions on Russia. The issue is whether our view can be taken for granted without even being told of what it is!"says Varoufakis.