Greek PM Alexis Tsipras does not support the West’s sanctions against Russia calling them a “road to nowhere”

Post originally appeared on Hellenic Insider.

In what will surely make EU’s war party hawks unhappy, Greek PM Tsipras is speaking up again against EU sanctions placed on Russia, due to the US coup in February 2014.

Tsipras is simply stating the obvious, why are sanctions in place against Russia for a coup that the West initiated, and a war that US neo-cons are driving?

In the parallel universe of elitist Europe, where American patronage is rewarded with large weapons sales kickbacks…Tsipras’ new call to end sanctions is equivalent to someone taking away billions of MIC dollars right out of the pockets of Brussels’ ruling oligarchs.

Via ITAR TASS News Agency.

In the interview ahead of his upcoming visit to Moscow on April 8, the Greek prime minister [Alexis Tsipras] noted that there is a chance of bringing the trade ties between the two countries to a new level.

“We can have a substantial cooperation that will allow Greece to export its agricultural goods to the Russian Federation,” Tsipras stressed.

“You know that over the past years a blow was dealt to these relations as the previous governments in my country had not done what they could have done to avoid this senseless sanctions policy, in my opinion, amid tensions in Ukraine,” he said.

“The result of this is the embargo also on the Greek agricultural goods what has seriously damaged the Greek economy,” Tsipras said.

The prime minister reminded that as soon as he took office he received a message from European Council President Donald Tusk “who almost took for granted Greece’s position in favor of sanctions.”

“I called him and also [EU foreign policy chief] Federica Mogherini and told them: “Don’t think that Greece’s position is pretty much a given, the situation has changed and now there is another government in Greece. And now you should ask us before you take the decisions,” he said.

“We do not agree with sanctions. I believe that this is a road to nowhere. I support the point of view that there is a need for a dialogue and diplomacy, we should sit down at the negotiating table and find the solutions to major problems,” he said.

The Greek premier stressed that the economic war is a “dead-end policy.”

“I’m for diplomacy,” Tsipras said. “I believe reaching the Minsk agreements is an important achievement. I think every effort should be made to stop tensions in Ukraine,” he added.

Tsipras said during his first participation in the EU summit on March 19-20 in Brussels he told the prime ministers and heads of states: “Tell me how do you imagine the new security architecture in Europe? Do you see it with Russia on the opposite side or with Russia in the process of a dialogue and mutual understanding?”

“I received no answer from many of them,” Tsipras said. “In my understanding, the answer is clear: the new European security architecture should also include Russia.”

References:

http://tass.ru/en/world/786024

http://hellenicinsider.com/greek-pm-alexis-tsipras-does-not-support-the-wests-sanctions-against-russia-calling-them-a-road-to-nowhere/