The Greek Kathimerini
daily reported earlier citing diplomatic sources that Athens had decided to
expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country.
MOSCOW, July 11.
/TASS/. Moscow always takes tit-for-tat measures in response to diplomat
expulsions, an official at the Russian Foreign Ministry told reporters,
commenting on media reports about the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from
Greece.
"The expulsion
of diplomats always leads to tit-for-tat measures," the official said.
The Greek Kathimerini
daily reported earlier citing diplomatic sources that Athens had decided to
expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country.
According to the daily, the Greek authorities accuse the diplomats of
interfering in the country’s domestic affairs and undermining the national
security of Greece. The newspaper says that the diplomats are particularly
accused of "attempts to get and disseminate information, as well as bribe
state officials." Athens’ decision is said to be "a response to a
number of well-coordinated steps aimed at increasing Russia’s influence in
Greece."
However, the same
sources said that Greece "is still willing to maintain good relations with
Russia, facilitate friendship between the two countries’ people, as well as
cooperation between the two governments and civil societies" based on
equality and respect for each other’s sovereignty and independence. The sources
added that Greece had been cautious about relations with Russia, particularly
refraining from following the example of many Western states that had expelled
Russian diplomats in the wake of the Skripal incident - a decision welcomed by
the Russian leadership.
Diplomatic sources
stressed that Athens’ decision stemmed from the activities of the four
diplomats and had nothing to do with Greece’s attitude towards Russia. They
also said that any retaliatory measures that Moscow might take would be
useless.
Source: ITAR-TASS
11-07-2018
