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Tsipras, Kammenos to meet amid rumors of rift

Tsipras, Kammenos to meet amid rumors of rift

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is to meet his coalition partner Panos Kammenos on Tuesday for talks on the protracted detention of two Greek soldiers in Turkey amid speculation about a rift between them.

Kammenos has kept a low profile recently, even though the case of the two soldiers falls within his competence as defense minister, as his initial response had been regarded as potentially incendiary and reckless by some in the government.

However, faced with rumors about a split in the coalition, Tsipras and Kammenos are to meet in a bid to present a united front.

On Monday Kammenos insisted that all was well. “This coalition will continue until the end,” he said.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos also rebuffed speculation about a rift, describing the relationship between Tsipras and Kammenos as“excellent.” The two men will discuss “possible additional actions” in connection with the two soldiers, Tzanakopoulos said.

Notwithstanding his insistence that all is well, Kammenos did not appear to have compromised. He used the word “hostages” again to describe the detained soldiers – even though it was this phrase that had angered many in the government. He also reiterated his stance as regards Greece’s negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, saying that he will not accept the use of the term “Macedonia” in a solution for the Balkan state’s official name.

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