ATHENS, August 20. /ITAR-TASS/. The Greek opposition has accused the country’s authorities of neglecting the state economic interests and urged Athens to withdraw from the EU sanctions regime against Russia, the opposition leader said on Tuesday.

The leader of the main oppositional Coalition of Left Radical Forces, Alexis Tsipras, said that “the economic war with Russia makes no contribution to Ukrainian crisis settlement, but creates numerous negative consequences for the entire European Union that are catastrophic for southern Europe, especially Greece.”

The opposition leader blamed Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Vice Premier Evangelos Venizelos for “the catastrophic crisis for the Greek interests” in trade relations with Russia that “makes thousand local producers desperate". Tsipras urged the government to distance itself from the “thoughtless policy of sanctions, which preparation started during Greek presidency in the EU.”

Greek government spokesperson Sofia Voultepsi explained the authorities’ position by financial needs. During the years of its EU membership, Greece has received more than €150 billion in the form of various payments, and has been promised €18.5 billion more by 2020.