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State Duma lawmaker: West interference into situation in Ukraine runs international norms

MUNICH, February 01, 21:29 /ITAR-TASS/. Western politicians’ interference into the situation in Ukraine runs counter the norms of international practice, chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for the CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Slutsky said at the 50th Munich Security Conference.

The Russian lawmaker takes part in a panel discussion devoted to the latest events in Ukraine and prospects for the EU Eastern Partnership programme.

The discussion involves Ukrainian acting Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, Romanian President Traian Basescu and Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili. Leader of the opposition party UDAR (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform) Vitali Klitschko is also invited to take part in the discussion. European Commissioner for the Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule coordinates the debates.

“Earlier it was proposed to study a possibility to form a free trade zone between the EU and the Eurasian economic union, which is being created by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan,” the Russian lawmaker said.

“We mean the interconnection of European and Eurasian integration processes in order to create a common economic and humanitarian space from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Both models are based on the similar principles, the norms of the World Trade Organisation and could add each other effectively,” Slutsky said.

“The idea itself on Ukraine’s possible participation in the Eurasian project played a role of sparkle at the West’s powder depot. The calls by Western politicians and the opposition leaders promoted protest actions, which had become uncontrollable and which led to dreadful consequences,” he said.

“No Russian politicians appeared on Maidan. We’ll continue supporting Ukraine be the government is. Sovereign Ukraine has right to this,” Slutsky said.

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Ukraine crisis Foreign policy

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