Moscow hints at aid for Greece
Moscow • Russia could offer debt-ridden Greece controversial loans and discounts on supplies of natural gas in exchange for “particular assets in Greece,” according to reports in Moscow.
Alexis Tsipras, Greece’s prime minister, is due to meet Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, on Wednesday.
Athens’ overtures to Moscow have raised fears the leftist government is pivoting east in search of alternative sources of finance as it bids to avoid bankruptcy.
Ahead of his visit, Tsipras condemned economic sanctions on Moscow as “a road to nowhere.” Greece’s dalliance with the Kremlin has also attracted criticism for potentially undermining the EU’s united front against Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.
Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, said on Saturday that it would be “unacceptable” if Tsipras “jeopardized Europe’s common policy on Russia” in return for Kremlin aid.
But Kommersant newspaper quoted an anonymous Russian government source on Tuesday saying that lines of credit were on the table.
“We’re ready to consider the question of providing Greece discounts on gas: The price for it is tied to the cost of oil which has significantly fallen in recent months,” the source said.
“We are also ready to discuss the possibility of granting Greece new loans. But here we, in turn, are interested in reciprocal moves — in particular, in Russia receiving particular assets in Greece.”
The source did not identify the assets concerned, but Russian media said the Greek gas company DEPA could be among them. Stakes in train operator Train OSE and seaports in Athens and Thessaloniki are also potential targets.
Moscow is Greece’s largest trading partner due to its reliance on Russian natural gas.
Athens’ energy minister has invited Russian companies to explore natural gas and oil reserves off the country’s eastern coast. In return, Greece has indicated it is willing to support the Kremlin’s new pipeline plan though Turkey, known as “Turkish Stream.”
EU officials fear any Russian rescue loans or other sweeteners could persuade Athens to veto sanctions on the Kremlin over Ukraine, where Russia has supported separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces.
Besides credit and gas discounts, the Kremlin could offer Greece a partial lifting of its EU food import ban in exchange for Athens pushing a pro-Russia line. Greece has been hit particularly hard by a fruit export ban in place since August.