ATHENS, July 22. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is one of the best diplomats in the world, Greek top diplomat Nikos Kotzias said an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) on Sunday.
"Sergey Lavrov, whom I consider to be one of the best diplomats on the international scene, and I have a friendly relationship, asked me to invite him. To come to Greece to prepare for the trip of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to Moscow, who was invited by them. I gave this invitation. If he wants to come, he will do so, again he will be welcome. If he feels that he must align with those that we expelled or with those that were not allowed to enter, it is his right. I tried, as you know, and it is highlighted in the announcement, not to link these bad cases with formal Russia," Kotzias said.
On July 11, the Greek Kathimerini daily reported, citing diplomatic sources, that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country. According to the daily, Athens accused the diplomats of interfering in the country’s domestic affairs and undermining the national security of Greece. However, the same sources said that Greece was still willing to maintain good relations with Russia, facilitate friendship between the two countries’ people, as well as cooperation between the two governments.
Greek Government Spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos later confirmed the expulsion of diplomats. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in turn, said that the move would not positively affect bilateral relations, spurring a tit-for-tat response.
Lavrov was expected to make a visit to Greece in September but as Russian Ambassador to Athens Andrei Maslov told TASS, under the current circumstances, it is pointless to stick to the earlier schedule. On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry xpressed strong protest to the Greek ambassador to Moscow regarding the expulsion of Russian diplomats and anti-Russian statements made by Athens.