Prague, Dec 23 (CTK) – Recalling the ambassador to the home country is a strong diplomatic gesture, especially if it happens between allies, Czech diplomats told CTK yesterday, commenting on the rift between the Czech Republic and Greece.
On Tuesday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias recalled the Greek ambassador, Panayotis Sarris, from Prague to Athens for consultations in reaction to Zeman’s words that the Czech Republic would enter the euro zone only after Greece’s departure from it.
However, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek wrote on Twitter earlier yesterday that following a conversation between him and Kotzias, Sarris will return to Prague after Christmas.
Former foreign and defence minister Alexandr Vondra told CTK he did not remember a similarly strong step taken by the allies in the EU or NATO.
Former Czech European commissioner Pavel Telicka said the Greeks’ step was an important signal.
“It is a rather strong step, I did not remember any allies from NATO or the EU having had a similar problem,” Vondra said.
Telicka said it was sad that such a serious diplomatic gesture had been made by an ally of the Czech Republic.
Telicka said on his webpage that recalling an ambassador for consultations usually expressed protest or basic disagreement.
Zeman commented on the situation in the euro zone in an interview with the Slovak news agency TASR a week ago and said the Czech Republic should introduce the euro only after Greece’s depature from the euro zone.
“My only apprehension about the adoption of the euro amid the present stabilisation mechanism is that Czech taxpayers would have to cover the Greek debts. I was very disappointed by the outcome of the [summer] negotiations that were close to ‘Grexit’, but finally resulted in Greece’s remaining in the euro zone,” Zeman said.
Vondra did not take issue with Zeman’s words. “Zeman is basically right, but if I were him, I would not make a scapegoat from Greece,” Vondra said, adding that he considered the Greek reaction inadequate.
“Looking from outside, the Greek ambassador seems to have wanted to spend Christmas at home,” he added.
Telicka adopted a stricter attitude to Zeman’s statement.
“Such divisive statements as those uttered by Zeman have a general negative impact on the operational capability of the EU. In addition, the issue itself is not urgent at all now,“ Telicka said.
“A statesman can be given a positive assessment if he helps settle problems. I can hardly remember Zeman having helped solve any problems recently,” he added.
According to the sources available to CTK, with its resolute steps Greece wanted to warn other countries that have criticised it recently.
The Greek television station ERT has said these have been Hungary and Slovakia.
