Page 9 - ARUBA TODAY

A9
WORLD NEWS Friday 13 July 2018

Greece: Russians expelled over cash-for-protests allegation

By COSTAS KANTOURIS national sovereignty.”
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Russian authorities have
Associated Press been given until Friday to
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) get the two diplomats out
— Greece has moved to of Greece, the Greek of-
expel two Russian diplo- ficial told The Associated
mats accused of supplying Press.
funds to protest groups op- He asked not to be identi-
posing a deal that would fied, citing the sensitivity of
end Greece’s longstand- the issue.
ing name dispute with The government was com-
neighboring Macedonia, pelled to act after receiv-
a Greek official said Thurs- ing evidence of “specific
day. actions,” the official said.
The expulsions were con- Greece also blocked other
firmed the day after NATO Russian officials from enter-
formally invited Mace- ing the country, he said.
donia to join the western It was not clear if the Rus-
military alliance pending sian diplomats have de-
the agreement’s success- parted or are preparing to
ful completion. Moscow leave.
opposes any expansion of The United States wel-
NATO, particularly if it in- comed the Greek action. In
volves nations Russia sees A protester raises a flag reading “Macedonia is Greek” during a rally opposing Greece’s name a message posted on Twit-
as within its natural sphere deal with neighbouring Macedonia in Athens, Greece. ter, U.S. State Department
of influence. Associated Press spokeswoman Heather
Greek Prime Minister Alexis that he was obliged “to pulsions directly. borhood,” Tsipras said. “But Nauert said: “We support
Tsipras told Greek report- defend the national sover- “We seek good relations we do demand that all Greece defending its sov-
ers in Brussels after a NATO eignty” of Greece, but did with most countries — not countries respect our in- ereignty. Russia must end its
summit ended Thursday not refer to Russia or the ex- only the ones in our neigh- ternational legitimacy and destabilizing behavior.”q