Counter-sanctions should take into account Hungary, Greece, Cyprus stances — lawmaker

MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Working out retaliatory sanctions against the European Union, Russia should take into account the stances of the countries with which it has good economic and political relations, such as Hungary, Greece and Cyprus, speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday, answering a TASS question.

She said with regret that the EU has extended sanctions against Russia, adding that "Russia will introduce its retaliatory, adequate and measured counter-sanctions" and the Russian government is currently working on this.

The Federation Council head at the same time spoke in favour of a differentiated approach to European states. "I believe, however, that working out the counter-sanctions policy, we must take into account the positions of a number of countries, such as Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, with which we have developed not only good economic and trade relations, but also political relations, which have actively opposed the policy of sanctions," said the speaker, adding that "such states should be supported."

Matviyenko also called for monitoring compliance with the ban on the imports of some goods from the EU. According to her, Russian retailers have reported increased supplies from Estonia, for example, of apples, the country of origin of which is declared South Africa, "it is obvious, however, that they are of Polish origin." "We cannot allow violation of counter-sanctions that we have imposed, so in that sense we have to tighten the requirements, step up border control for preventing fraud," the speaker said. "As for the EU sanctions, they are under very strict control."

On June 22, the EU extended the economic sanctions against Russia. After that, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued instructions to government members to prepare a proposal to the Russian president to extend Russia’s counter-sanctions against the EU.

"With regard to the list of products on which the embargo is to be extended, it has remained virtually unchanged, except for the previously discussed items that are necessary for implementing the import substitution programme. For example, such as biomaterials, larvae for breeding oysters and baby fishes," prime minister’s press secretary Natalya Timakova said.

Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that that the proposals to extend the Russian retaliatory sanctions would be adopted quickly: "Yes, they are being worked out in the presidential administration. We expect this work to be quickly completed and documented.".