“We don’t accept behaviors that violate the international law,” government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Wednesday confirming in fact media reports that Greece plans to expel two Russian diplomats and ban entrance to Greece for another two. So far no official statement has been issued by the Greek Foreign Ministry on the issue, however, diplomatic sources have alleged towards media that the diplomats were involved in rallies against the Macedonia agreement and furthermore they attempted to offer money to state officials.
“Greece, having proven it in the context of a multidimensional foreign policy, wants good relations with all states, and all states and authorities have to respect both international law and us, the Greek government and the Greek state. In this context, whenever necessary measures have been taken and this has been done this time to, ” State Minister Tzanakopoulos said.
He added that “the Greek side wants good relations with all states but insists that it is not possible to accept behavior that violates international law and does not show respect for the Greek state,” he stressed.
Asked if there were behaviors that violated the principles of the Greek state, he said: “The assessment is that there have been such behaviors and that is why all the necessary measures will be taken.”
Citing Greek diplomatic sources, reuters reported on Wednesday noon, that Athens informed Moscow on July 6 that it planned to expel Russian diplomats from the country for illegal activities connected to rallies against a deal with Macedonia.
“We had issued warnings to Russian authorities for some time over (the actions of) these specific 4 diplomats and civilians, and on Friday it was officially raised, giving them a reasonable period of a few days to leave the country,” the source told Reuters.
The allegations concerned involvement in rallies against a deal with Macedonia and attempts to offer money to state officials, the source said.
