Cyprus must oppose the extension of EU sanctions against Russia

 

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 17th December 2015, Nicosia

 

The two-day meeting of the European Council is starting today, which is expected to deal with the extension of the EU’s sanctions against Russia for another six months.

President Anastasiades has a duty to inform and explain before the Cypriot people what stand our country will adopt on the issue. Does the Government consider that the main responsibility for the crisis in Ukraine lies with Russia? Just last February during his visit to Moscow, the President of the Republic welcomed Russia’s contribution to the Minsk peace agreement and underlined that “neither military means, nor sanctions can provide the answer.” At the same time, he criticized the selective sensitivity shown by the European leaders who are imposing sanctions on Russia on the issue of Ukraine, “not for waging an invasion, but on the suspicion of collaborating with the separatists”; while at the same time they are ignoring the invasion of Turkey in Cyprus. Those statements made by the President were correct. However, for them to have a real meaning and substance they must also be addressed now at the Summit itself.

AKEL stresses that the strategy of economic warfare, provocations and the militarization of Eastern Europe being implemented by the bloc of the EU/US/NATO/Turkey against Russia is putting in danger the international climate and perpetuating the bloodshed against the people of Ukraine, but also Syria – countries that have long- lasting friendly relations with our country.

The government must realize that the vast majority of the people of Cyprus do not want Cyprus to be drawn into the West’s campaign of aggression against Russia, a country with which Cyprus is connected to with bonds of friendship and cooperation. AKEL calls on the Anastasiades government to oppose the extension of the EU sanctions against Russia.