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Greece recalls ambassador in Austria over refugee crisis

Xinhua, February 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Greek government recalled Greece's Ambassador to Vienna, as Athens protests against Austria's recent initiatives regarding the handling of the refugee crisis that have resulted in additional movement restrictions in the Balkans, leaving thousands of refugees stranded in Greece.

Ambassador Chryssoula Aliferi was recalled for "consultations aimed at safeguarding the friendly relations between the states and peoples of Greece and Austria," the Greek Foreign Ministry said in an e-mailed announcement.

"Unilateral initiatives for resolving the refugee crisis, along with violations of international law and the European acquis by member states of the EU, are practices that can undermine the foundations and process of European integration," according to the statement.

"Responsibility for dealing with the migration and refugee crisis cannot weigh on one country alone. Common sense dictates that effective handling of this complex problem should be governed by the principles of solidarity and fair burden sharing. Greece is working in such a direction," it concluded.

Athens' unusual move comes a day after Austria hosted a ministerial meeting with officials from Western Balkan countries, excluding Greece, to discuss how to slow the refugee influx. Endit