Slovak Finance Minister Peter Kažimír's comments on Twitter concerning the results of Monday's talks between eurozone leaders on providing the third bailout package to Greece have outraged not only many Greeks on social networks, but also the Greek Government itself, which submitted a diplomatic protest in Bratislava on Thursday. "The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry doesn't comment on diplomatic communication", said ministry spokesman Peter Stano when asked by TASR about the piece of information.
After Monday's debt talks in Greece, Kažimír wrote in English on Twitter: "#Greece compromise we reached this morning is tough for Athens becasue[sic] it's the results of their 'Greek Spring' #eurozone". The statement caused a commotion on Twitter, with users with mainly Greek names calling him "stupid", "bastard" and "Nazi", among other things.
Kažimír deleted the original post, and wrote the following series of messages: "There is a saying - tell someone the truth or lend him/her money and they will become your enemies ... The Greek compromise, reached on Monday, is considered to be tough and harsh. If it's so, it is the unfortunate outcome of 'Syriza Spring' ... In tense situations, some tweets can trigger anger. Our intention [was] to be straightforward about our perspective, not to insult or offend". According to the agreement on the third bailout amounting to €86 billion, Greece has to implement tough reforms of its tax and pension systems, the labour market, and prepare a major programme of privatisation of state property.
The minister told TASR on Thursday that his critical comments on Twitter on Monday weren't directed against the Greek nation, but only against the country's irresponsible government. Upon learning of the official protest from the Greek government, the minister responded that he is sorry that he has added to Slovak diplomats' work by his statements.
"Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that - as of now - I'll begin walking on my tiptoes concerning the situation in Greece. I'm not being offensive and I've never intended to offend the Greek nation. My criticism was directed only against the irresponsible Greek Government - this is the spirit of my current and future statements, while taking into account Slovakia's and the eurozone's interests", stated Kažimír.
