Tough EU Statement on Russia Didn’t Have Greek Consent, Officials Say

27/1/2015

By Laurence Norman And Viktoria Dendrinou

Greek Official Says Greece Will Issue Statement Later Tuesday

A toughly worded statement on Russia issued Tuesday by European Union heads of governments didn't have the consent of Greece’s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, according to two Greek officials.

“The statement does not have Greece’s consent,” a government official said. The official added that the Greek government will put out a statement later saying the European Council, the body which issued the statement, didn't follow the correct procedure to win Athens’ consent.

In the past, Mr. Tsipras, who took office Monday afternoon, has been sharply critical of EU sanctions against Russia.

In Tuesday’s statement, EU leaders asked the bloc’s foreign ministers to consider further sanctions against Russia as a response to the latest violence in eastern Ukraine, saying Moscow held “responsibility” for the rebels’ actions.

The statement condemned the killing of civilians during “the indiscriminate shelling” of Mariupol on Jan. 24.

“We note evidence of continued and growing support given to the separatists by Russia, which underlines Russia’s responsibility. We urge Russia to condemn the separatists’ actions and to implement the Minsk agreements,” the leaders said in Tuesday’s statement.

There was no immediate comment from a spokesman at the European Council.

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