Italy’s Liguaria passes resolution on revoking of anti-Russian sanctions

ROME, June 29. /TASS/. Regional Council in Liguria on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for a revocation of the EU’s sanctions against Russia and acknowledgment of the expression of will by the people of Crimea as regards the reunification of that region with Russia.

Members of the Council, which is the regional legislature, had a unanimity vote for the resolution.

Resolution No. 100 drafted by a group of representatives of Lega Nord political party envisions the setting up of a Committee Against Anti-Russian Sanctions, for Recognition of the Crimea Population’s Right to Self-Determination and in Defense of Traditional Ligurian Products.

The authors of the document said the committee would organize a signup campaign for the lifting of sanctions.

The Regional Council recommends to the national government to step up actions at the European level for revoking the sanctions. In addition to it, the resolution also points out the importance of cooperation with Russia for ensuring security.

In the course of the Council’s session, speakers recalled the milestones of Russian-Italian relations, the origins of which at the official diplomatic level go back to the 17th century.

A similar resolution was adopted earlier this month in the region of Veneto. On July 5, voting on the problem will take place in Lombardy.

Fabio Tosi, a member of Cinquestelle (Five Stars) party said a resolution urging the EU to withdraw its sanctions was getting ready for examination in Toscana. He said the resolution would not have any legally binding force but much rather reflected the political position of Italian regions

The EU introduced sanctions against Russia in 2014 in the wake of events in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia. It has enlarged and prolonged them on a number of occasions since then.

As part of the sanction drive, it suspended talks with Russia on visa-free traveling and on a new basic agreement on cooperation.

Also, it imposed a ban on trips to Europe for a number of Russian officials and froze their bank accounts, along with introducing restrictive measures in trade, finance and the military sphere. All in all, the sanctions lists affected 151 persons and 37 legal entities,

The sectoral sanctions have embraced more than twenty Russian financial, oil producing and defense organizations.

Russia retaliated with sanctions of its on August 7, 2014. Apart from the EU and the U.S., these sanctions also hit Australia, Canada, and Norway.

The countersanctions imposed a ban in imports of fruit, vegetables, and dairy products from these countries.

Rough estimates indicate the policy of sanctions has inflicted direct and indirect losses on the Italian economy amounting to $3.6 billion.