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Anti-Russian sanctions

Italian MP calls Lombardy vote on sanctions political signal for Europe

An Italian MP says the adoption is the second most vital political act in Europe after the decision of the French Senate

© AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

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Italy's Lombardy adopts resolution on lifting anti-Russian sanctions

ROME, July 5 /TASS/. The adoption of a resolution calling for lifting the anti-Russian sanctions and recognizing the right of the people of Crimea to self-determination by the Regional Council of Lombardy is the most important political signal to Europe after the French Senate’s decision, Paolo Grimoldi, a deputy of the Northern League political party in the national parliament and the head of the party group in Lombardy, told TASS on Tuesday.

"Today’s result is historic. It is the second most vital political act in Europe after the decision of the French Senate, which spoke in favor of lifting the anti-Russian sanctions. Lombardy is one of the biggest European regions and its decision is an important signal to Europe," Grimoldi stressed.

Grimoldi’s faction initiated the sanctions-lifting resolution, which was previously adopted in Veneto and Liguria. He is planning to submit the issue to the national parliament. The deputy said that the ruling Democratic Party, which had voted against the resolution in Lombardy’s Regional Council earlier on Tuesday, was split on the sanctions issue.

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The Regional Council of Lombardy, a province in northern Italy, adopted a resolution on lifting the anti-Russian sanctions and recognizing the right of the people of Crimea to self-determination by 43 votes to 15 with 2 abstentions.

The vote took place at the secretariat of the Northern League political party, whose representatives are the resolution’s authors.

The resolution stresses the need of strengthening a dialogue with Russia, including with an aim to ensure international security. The resolution’s authors demand that the regional government start working for the lifting of sanctions and establishing commercial relations with Crimea.

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Sanctions vs. Russia Italy

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