Greece’s foreign ministry says it is recalling its ambassador to Austria back to Athens for consultations, a day after Austria held a meeting with officials from Balkan countries to discuss how to limit the numbers of migrants flowing into Europe, but excluded Greece.



Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias recalled the ambassador Thursday "in order to safeguard the friendly relations between the states and the people of Greece and Austria," the ministry said in a statement.



Greece's massive maritime border with Turkey and the close proximity of its islands to the Turkish coast have made it the main point of entry for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty at home and hoping for better lives in Europe.



The ministry said it was “clear that the big problems of the European Union cannot be dealt with, with thoughts, mentalities and extra-institutional initiatives that have their roots in the 19th century.”



It said such acts could “undermine the foundations and the process of European unification.”

[AP]

