SIMFEROPOL, September 16. /TASS/. The head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, believes that the plans of Russia’s and Crimea’s foreign enemies, who have been trying to put pressures on the peninsula’s economy and social sphere have reached nowhere. Over the eighteen months Crimea has been an integral part of Russia it managed to survive the pressures and is now on the sustainable development track.

"It was a dramatic period. Crimea was developing amid unprecedented pressures from foreign forces. There were the maritime and transport blockade, Western sanctions, and the destruction of the financial system. The enemies of Russia and Crimea had expected that a combination of these factors would cause the peninsula’s economy and social sphere to collapse," Aksyonov told the Crimean legislature with a review of his performance during the first 18 months in office.

"These plans have fallen flat. Our republic has coped with external and internal challenges and embarked on the path of sustainable development,"Aksyonov said. "We make no secret of the existing problems and do our outmost to correct mistakes as fast as possible. We are absolutely open. This is Crimea’s most open government ever."

On March 11 Crimea’s legislature and the city council of Sevastopol, enjoying the status of Russia’s federal city, adopted a declaration of their independence. On March 16, in a referendum which saw a 80-percent turnout, 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol residents cast their ballots for reunification with Russia. On March 18 a treaty was signed on re-incorporating both territories into Russia. Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have refused to recognize Crimea’s independence and its reunification with Russia.