Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves did not use offensive statements when speaking about any country, the office of the president said in reference to an interview Ilves gave to The Times recently and as a result of which the Greek Foreign Ministry on Wednesday decided to summon forth the Estonian ambassador.
«The head of state in his interview expressed concern in regard to extreme political forces in the European Union that value personal economic interests not our common values,» the office said in an official statement. «The journalist [who interviewed Ilves] affirmed that his goal was to relay a broader debate in the European Union, not directly the president's words,» the statement said.
The office of the president also said that it has sent the information to the ambassadors of these states that were mentioned in the interview.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it has summoned forth Estonian ambassador Margus Rava to whom a protest was submitted in connection with an interview Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves gave to The Times recently.
The ministry said that such statements are not in line with the political culture of Europe and do not match the level of relationship and contacts of two allies and partners like Greece and Estonia.
According to The Times Ilves said in an interview with the British newspaper that Greece, Italy, Hungary and Cypros are "useful idiots" who are pressing for an easing of sanctions -- and, he claims, disrupting the unity of the bloc.
Greece does not support sanctions against Russia which, according to the Greece, might bring along a new Cold War between Russia and the West.