BERLIN, may 27 — RIA Novosti. anti-Russian EU sanctions will remain in force without progress in the Minsk process, the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
According to her, the basis for constructive dialogue and peaceful coexistence is “the understanding that international law should not act the right of the strong, and the force of law.” She noted that this includes the Final act of the conference on security and cooperation in Europe and the European Convention on human rights in Europe.
“This Canon of rules and values, Russia has repeatedly violated Russia in our immediate neighborhood have created a zone of unresolved conflict, annexed in violation of international law, the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea. It supported puppet regimes in parts of Eastern Ukraine and to intervene in the Western democracies hybrid tool“, — said Merkel, speaking in the event of the Fund named after Konrad Adenauer, presenting the goals of Germany in the upcoming EU presidency.
According to her, during the German presidency Russia will continue to occupy an important place in the politics of Berlin. “Where are fundamental norms of international law, we are going to talk about it. If there is no progress in the Minsk process, we must maintain the sanctions. On the other hand, the presidency of the EU Council gives us the opportunity to give a new impulse to relations”, — added Merkel.
According to her, we are talking about the situation in Libya, health and the fight against climate change.
Crimea became a Russian region after held there in March 2014 referendum in which 96.77% of voters of the Republic of Crimea and 95.6% of residents of Sevastopol voted for joining Russia. Ukraine continue considers Crimea its but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue “is closed permanently.”
