UFA, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the European Union for its alleged late intervention in the Greek economic crisis.
In a press conference held at the end of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Ufa, the capital city of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Friday, Putin said that Russia had special relations with Greece and hoped for a quick solution in the Greek crisis.
He said that developments in Greece affected Russia, albeit in an indirect way.
He said that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras did not ask Russia for financial support. “Despite the difficulties which the Russian economy suffers, it has the ability to help its partner, but there is no such request from Athens, as I have repeatedly said,” Putin said.
He said that it was unfair to put the entire responsibility of the bailout talks crisis on the Greek government, adding that the European Commission in fact had failed to address the problems promptly.
“If there were some difficulties in the economic activity of Greece, where was the European Commission before?” he asked. “Why such bonuses and loans were given, why was Greece allowed to keep a low taxation profile in some sectors?” he added.
About Iran nuclear deal, Putin said that if Iran started to sell its oil in the market, it might have some impact on the Russian economy.
Established in 1996, the SCO is a political, economic and military organization.
