ROME, March 21. /TASS/. The Republic of San Marino refused to impose sanctions against Russia, because it has always been opposed to such measures, San Marino’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs and Justice Nicola Renzi told TASS on Thursday.
"San Marino did not impose sanctions on Russia. Abiding by the old principle, which has invariably characterized San Marino’s foreign policy, we have always been opposed to sanction regimes and any types of embargoes, believing that such measures affect the population of those countries, against which they are aimed, most of all. San Marino has always maintained dialogue as the principal tool for resolving conflicts. Our biggest goal is to become a permanent platform for dialogue between opposing parties to achieve peace and harmony between peoples," he said.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is beginning the first ever visit in the history of diplomatic relations to the enclaved country surrounded by Italy. According to Renzi, the arrival of the top Russian diplomat confirms the high level of bilateral relations and, at the same time, gives an impetus to stepping up cooperation in the economic, social and cultural spheres.
Today, the Republic of San Marino is primarily interested in attracting investors, Renzi stressed. "In addition to tourism and trade, today San Marino is aimed at the development of investment projects and is an interesting and reliable business partner," he said.