Galery

1

"Greek producers will have the full support of the community," said the government through the Ministry of the Interior, which ensures that if there is damage to imports of agricultural products because of the Russian embargo, compensation will be given.

The statement of the Ministry says that the necessary steps have been taken so that the consequences of the Russian embargo will be as few as possible.

The purpose of the government is for the mechanisms to begin operating immediately in order to compensate for any losses to Greek producers through delivery of the products in the domestic market or their export to other foreign markets.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, if, despite these efforts, there are losses, appropriate compensation will be provided.

The statement emphasizes that "the Russian market is very important for Greek fresh produce, but the relevant turnover in absolute numbers is limited and controlled at the national level, and even more in the Community".

Hasty reactions do not help

The Ministry responds to the criticism of the consistency of European decisions for sanctions against Russia, noting that "our country, as a member of the European Union, participates in the formulation and the implementation of the European collective decision, taking into account different parameters with the sole criterion of the overall long-term protection of economic, international and political national interests".

"No fragmented or hasty reactions help the international position of the country and national strategic interests – beginning with the Cyprus issue through to the final exit from the economic crisis – without a reference framework and without any opportunity to respond to simple questions about the consequences and the next step", says the statement.

It is underlined that the Greek-Russian economic relations especially in tourism and energy, as well as commercial exchange in general develop satisfactorily.

"Greece is a reliable European partner which, however, uses its regional identities".

The statement adds that "politically, the international community understands that Greece, as a member of the EU and the Euro-Atlantic Union, is always a reliable European partner which, however, uses its regional identities – Balkan, Mediterranean and Black-Sea," and all of its traditional ties not only on a bilateral level, but also to ensure a positive development of the collective European and Euro-Atlantic policy on all major international issues. Always within the framework of international law and for the purpose of peace and stability".

The statement ends as follows: "Our EU and Euro-Atlantic partners need to understand as quickly as possible that it is not possible to have candidate countries to the EU, who are also members of NATO, involved a la carte in European policy and taking advantage of the price the member states pay."