PRESS RELEASE
Kammenos Calls for Plan B: Seek Funding from China and Russia
Feb. 10, 2015 (EIRNS)—Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos dropped what is being called a "bombshell" on Greek TV when he called for a "Plan B" if the European Union rejects Greece’s proposals, which would include seeking financial aid from the U.S., Russia, and China. Speaking on Greece’s Mega television last night, the Defense Minister said, "It could the United States at best, it could be Russia, it could be China or other countries." He added that this could take the form of concessions for major infrastructure like ports, in which Moscow has expressed an interest.
"What we want is a deal," stressed Kammenos.
"But if there is no deal and if we see that Germany remains unbending and wants to blow Europe apart, then we have the obligation to go to Plan B. Plan B is to get funding from another source."
"I have very good relationship with Russia. We talked with the Russians about Plan B. They are thinking about lifting the embargo on Greek products, and resuming imports," Kammenos said, adding that "we are interested in cooperation in the pipeline with the Russians." He said the debt is unsustainable and now the government is demanding a "haircut," regardless of how it will be done and what it will be called.
It should be noted that opinion polls show that if elections were held, the Independent Greeks, which Kammenos heads, would more than double their vote from 4.75% to 10%, and the vote would come from New Democracy voters, which would only garner 18%, down from 28%. The ruling party Syriza would also rise, getting as much as 49%, which could give the government a two-thirds majority.
Meanwhile it was announced that Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will visit Berlin today and Moscow tomorrow to hold talks with his German and Russian counterparts. On the agenda in both capitals will be Ukraine, and Greece’s position regarding Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus problem, and stability in the Balkans area.
The daily Kathimerini, citing unnamed sources, reports that Kotzias has already complained to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, as well as to other Brussels officials, about the bloc’s leniency on Turkey following its violation of Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by the Barbaros research vessel. Other issues include the Balkans, particularly the Serbia and Kosovo issue, and a solution to the name dispute with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.) as a condition for regional security.
