The Greek government refused Austrian interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner’s proposed visit to Athens this coming week, as tensions between Athens and Vienna continue to rise.
The refusal came a day after the Greek government pulled its ambassador to Vienna after calling Austria’s decision to organize a refugee summit without Greece an “unfriendly act.”
Mikl-Leitner has been a huge critic of Greece’s response to the refugee crisis, accusing Athens of not doing enough to stem the flow of refugees into Europe.
“By decision of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Greece’s Ambassador to Vienna, Ms. [Chryssoula] Aliferi, is being called to Athens for consultations aimed at safeguarding the friendly relations between the states and peoples of Greece and Austria,” the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Greek Foreign Ministry called on Austria to revise the unilateral measures taken during a meeting with Balkan states in Vienna where a meeting was held without Greece, angering the Greek government.