Greek embassy in US responds to WSJ article on Iran nuclear deal

Greece defends the international legal order in a fragile region, marked by unrest, conflict and radicalization. It fully supports and respects the Iran nuclear deal, and by no means intends to undermine it. Greece couldn’t consent to sanctions against Iranian bank Saderat, because it would have contradicted the respect to the rule of law and to the European Court of Justice and the General Court’s ruling.

Read below the Embassy's response to the The Wall Street Journalarticle about Greece not agreeing to the renewal of sanctions against bank Saderat. Find the response here: http://on.wsj.com/2eKta1v

Regarding “Greece Defies U.S. and EU Over Sanctions on Iran Bank” (World News, Nov. 2): Greece defends the international legal order in a fragile region, marked by unrest, conflict and radicalization. The European Court of Justice upheld the General Court’s ruling to annul EU sanctions against Bank Saderat. Only by implementing the Court’s judgments, can the EU and its member states show the rest of the world that the rule of law is respected and double standards aren’t applied.
We wish to make abundantly clear that Greece fully supports and respects the Iran nuclear deal, and by no means intends to undermine it. On the contrary, we promote the full implementation of the agreement by all with due respect to the legal principles underpinning it.
Greece couldn’t consent to sanctions against Saderat without submission of the necessary evidence for such sanctions because this would have been legally unsubstantiated. To do otherwise would have contradicted the very principles and values that are at the core of Western legal civilization. Rule of law is one of the tenets upon which the EU was established, and it should never be compromised by political decisions.
Efthymios Aravantinos
Embassy of Greece
Washington

Washington