Greek ambassador will return to Prague after Christmas

Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said in his twitter account on Wednesday that the diplomatic rift between the Czech Republic and Greece due to Czech President Milos Zeman's critical statements about Greece is settled now.

After a phone conversation with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias, Zaoralek said that the Greek ambassador, Panayotis Sarris, will return to Prague after Christmas.

In reaction to Zeman's words that the Czech Republic would enter the euro zone only after Greece's departure from it, Kotzias recalled the Greek ambassador from Prague to Athens for consultations on Tuesday.

Zaoralek, over the phone call with his Greek counterpart, also invited his Greek counterpart to visit Prague. Zaoralek said he and Kotzias agreed that it would be unfortunate if the rift further escalated. They want to focus on more important issues.

Zaoralek said he agreed with Kotzias on intensifying bilateral contacts, because they face more important joint tasks within the EU.

In an interview with Czech Radio later on Wednesday, Zaoralek said he does not expect Czech-Greek relations to be negative, though it is impossible to assert that nothing happened. Endit