Bloomberg: 'Greece yields' on prospective new sanctions against Russia
First entry: 29 January 2015 - 21:40 Athens
European Union governments moved toward
imposing further economic sanctions on Russia as Greece’s new
administration refrained from casting a veto that could leave it
isolated in Europe.
EU foreign ministers gave the go-ahead to prepare steps that would go beyond last year’s decisions to ban financing for Russian state-owned banks and prohibit the export of advanced energy-exploration technology. The EU will also extend a blacklist of 132 people including Russian politicians and military officers involved in the Ukraine conflict by six months to September, and add more names to the list by Feb. 9.
“It does include preparatory work for further punitive measures,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters after the 28 national ministers met Thursday in Brussels. “We hope this can help put pressure in particular on Russia to make positive steps.”
The runup to the meeting was dominated by concern that Greece’s new government, which favors better ties with Russia, would block the additional restrictions. In the end, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias shied away from a confrontation in the Syriza-led government’s first appearance on the EU stage.
Greece won a rhetorical concession, getting references to sanctions taken out of the ministers’ statement and replaced with “any appropriate action.” Mogherini said that language is enough to let the work on economic measures go ahead.
The EU statement is a “good compromise,” Kotzias told reporters in Brussels.
A northern European group including Germany, Poland and the U.K. has spearheaded calls for a hard line on Russia for annexing Crimea last year and fomenting the rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
The decision marked a victory for EU President Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who denounced the “appeasement” of Russia last week. It cues up wider sanctions for possible approval at a Feb. 12 summit of EU leaders.
The goal is to spur Russia’s “swift and comprehensive implementation” of the September cease-fire agreement signed in Minsk, Belarus, the ministers said in a joint statement.
The blacklist imposes asset freezes and travel bans on 132 people and 28 organizations for their role in Russia’s seizure of Crimea and backing for the rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
Bloomberg
EU foreign ministers gave the go-ahead to prepare steps that would go beyond last year’s decisions to ban financing for Russian state-owned banks and prohibit the export of advanced energy-exploration technology. The EU will also extend a blacklist of 132 people including Russian politicians and military officers involved in the Ukraine conflict by six months to September, and add more names to the list by Feb. 9.
“It does include preparatory work for further punitive measures,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters after the 28 national ministers met Thursday in Brussels. “We hope this can help put pressure in particular on Russia to make positive steps.”
The runup to the meeting was dominated by concern that Greece’s new government, which favors better ties with Russia, would block the additional restrictions. In the end, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias shied away from a confrontation in the Syriza-led government’s first appearance on the EU stage.
Greece won a rhetorical concession, getting references to sanctions taken out of the ministers’ statement and replaced with “any appropriate action.” Mogherini said that language is enough to let the work on economic measures go ahead.
The EU statement is a “good compromise,” Kotzias told reporters in Brussels.
A northern European group including Germany, Poland and the U.K. has spearheaded calls for a hard line on Russia for annexing Crimea last year and fomenting the rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
The decision marked a victory for EU President Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who denounced the “appeasement” of Russia last week. It cues up wider sanctions for possible approval at a Feb. 12 summit of EU leaders.
The goal is to spur Russia’s “swift and comprehensive implementation” of the September cease-fire agreement signed in Minsk, Belarus, the ministers said in a joint statement.
The blacklist imposes asset freezes and travel bans on 132 people and 28 organizations for their role in Russia’s seizure of Crimea and backing for the rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
Bloomberg
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