BERLIN, September 25. /TASS/. Europe should recognize the reunification of Russia and Crimea because it reflects the will of the majority of people on the peninsula, Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPA), told Welt am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday.
"I think that is already a political reality," Strache said responding to a question on whether he is ready to recognize Crimea as part of Russia. "The referendum was democratic and legal. We were there then and had an opportunity to make sure that the reunification was in line with the interests of the majority of the population," he added.
The Austrian politician noted that "Crimea was always Russian, and it was illegally handed over by (Nikita) Krushchev." "If people spoke in favor of returning to Russia at the referendum, then it is for the best," Strache said.
He continued by noting that Western countries demonstrate double standards in the issue of recognizing the legitimacy of Russia’s reunification with Crimea. "Look at Kosovo. The unilateral declaration of independence there was a clear violation of international law, but neither EU nor US minded that, once again using their double-standard approaches," he concluded.