E. VENIZELOS: The crisis in Ukraine has to be de-escalated. We mustn’t return to the cold-war era. Europe’s policy is a policy of principles. For us, respect for international law, respect for the existing borders – for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states – are fundamental principles.
Of course, our reaction has to be clear and absolute, but also calm and productive. Because naturally we cannot underestimate the role of Russia and of Euro-Russian relations, not just on the European continent, but on the global stage. There are solutions that, through dialogue, can be implemented and succeed. Dialogue is an imperative of international law.
So we have an opportunity today, as the Foreign Ministers of the European Union, to draw up a comprehensive framework for the progress of Ukraine, for overcoming Ukraine’s domestic crisis, but also for averting tensions, for averting an escalation that would be to everyone’s detriment.
- JOURNALIST: Mr. President, in Athens the opposition reacted to your trip to Kiev. What’s your comment on that?
E. VENIZELOS: I am sincerely very dismayed, because I conveyed to the Greek community of Mariupol the concern, care and affection of the whole of the Greek state, of all the Greek political forces, and not just of the government. I am also dismayed at the fact that party leaders, like Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Kammenos – who appear to be working in coordination with one another – are attempting to shift the tactics and tone they use in domestic politics onto international policy issues. In domestic politics, much can be forgiven: many inflammatory and irresponsible stances. But when you apply these tactics in European and international politics, you can find yourself marginalized, vitally damaging Greek national interests.
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3/3/14
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EU FMs may consider freezing visa dialogue with Russia over Ukrainian crisis...
ReplyDeleteLavrov earlier urged the ambassadors of 28 EU countries to speed up the transition to visa-free travel
BRUSSELS, March 03, /ITAR-TASS/. The foreign ministers of 28 EU countries meeting in Brussels are considering the possibility of freezing visa dialogue with Russia because of disagreements over Ukraine.
This measure is contained in a draft final document for the meeting and may affect further facilitation of the visa regime or abolish the practice of issuing short-term visas to Russian citizens.
The European Union issued 5.940 million Shchengen visas to Russians in 2012, a million more than in the previous year, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said earlier this year. Russia issued about two million visas to EU citizens in 2012. Chizhov said he did not have data for 2013.
It’s the European Union’s turn to make the decision on visa-free travel with Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a meeting with his EU colleagues in Brussels in the middle of December 2013.
“There are several issues on our agenda we need to get off the ground. Our priority is the dialogue on visa-free travel, which has been on for more than eight years,” the minister said.
“In recent years, it has acquired concrete outlines: a list of joint steps has been agreed, which we and our European partners should take in order to ensure the security of travel documents and strict control on the border so that our citizens could visit each other calmly and safely,” Lavrov said, adding, “It’s the European Union’s turn to act.”
“We are convinced, and we can advise our leaders to make an announcement, that it’s time we started drafting an agreement on visa-free travel for short trips by Russian citizens and citizens of the EU countries that are members of the Schengen Area,” Lavrov said.
He said Russia had provided the European Commission with a report on the implementation of “joint steps” as part of the efforts to facilitate the visa regime. “Our partners promised to send us their report in the near future,” he added.
Lavrov earlier urged the ambassadors of 28 EU countries to speed up the transition to visa-free travel.....................http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/721860
3/3/14