Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls Greek ambassador from Vienna

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias has recalled the Greek Ambassador in Vienna Chrysoula Aliferi, following the recent, provocative Austrian initiative in relation to the refugee crisis.

In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argues that the major problems which the European Union faces cannot be addressed with attitudes and extra-institutional initiatives that date back to the 19th century, nor can the decisions of state leaders be replaced by the orders of police directors.

Furthermore, the Ministry underlined that the burden of tackling the refugee crisis cannot lie with any one country and that the solution to this complex problem must be based on the principles of solidarity and fairness.

The Austrian Minister of Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner defended the decision to call a meeting with Balkan states and exclude Greece from the process. The Austrian official questioned “if it is really the case that the Greek external border cannot be protected, can it be still a Schengen external border”.