Aggressive EU policy of sanctions against Russia must end

 

Statement of Costas Christodoulides, Head of the International Relations and European Affairs Department of the Central Committee of AKEL

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 9th February 2015, Nicosia

 

As expected, today’s session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council will add to the list of persons and entities against which sanctions are applied within the framework of the economic war waged by the West against Russia. It concerns the implementation of the unanimous decisions approved by the previous European Council. The cost of the sanctions however is being shouldered by many European countries too, particularly by small and middle businesses and producers of agricultural goods.

The reality of the Ukrainian people’s tragedy is very different from that described by the European Union and its Foreign Ministers. The root causes of the crisis are to be found primarily in the political, economic and military aggression of the Euro-Atlantic bloc, that is to say, the EU, NATO and the US who are supporting the bloody military operations conducted by the Ukrainian army and armed neo-Nazis in the east of the country. The Ukrainian government has so far not respected any agreement whatsoever. At the same time, it is continuing the trial to outlaw and ban the Communist Party of Ukraine, while it is tolerating and cooperating with fascist organizations.

AKEL calls on the Anastasiades government and the relevant Minister of Foreign Affairs to distance themselves from the ongoing aggression against Russia. The government must rise to the occasion and set its foreign policy in line with the consciousness of the majority of the Cypriot people. The aggressive and ineffective policy of sanctions against Russia must be terminated. The solution in Ukraine can only be peaceful and diplomatic; a solution that fully respects the rights and origin of the entire population.