- Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/FRANCE French MPs defend controversial visit to Crimea
- Date: 25th July 2015
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 25, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY ITAR TASS FRENCH DEPUTIES BEING SEATED AHEAD OF NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH MP, THIERRY MARIANI, SAYING: "We saw people, who were for most of them very happy that they returned to Russia, we didn't notice any military who were hiding in corners. We saw a situation, excuse me for the comparison but since we were in Yalta and since I am someone from the south of France, it (Crimea) appeared to me similar to the south of France." FRENCH DEPUTIES AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH MP, THIERRY MARIANI, SAYING: "The only thing we want to say is that most of the people we met and we met many, seemed happy that they returned to Russia, and were reassured not to know the situation that some are facing in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk." VARIOUS OF REPORTER WRITING IN TABLET (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH MP, CLAUDE GOASGUEN, SAYING: "It's the duty of a lawmaker to know what is going on in this region like in the Middle East. And we have nothing but silence or disinformation from our foreign ministry. This is not admissible. This is the first reason why I came. It was not the first time. I came to see what is going on in Crimea, and I am looking at this objectively. My first reaction was that of shock to find that it is an entirely peaceful region." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH MP, THIERRY MARIANI, SAYING: "It is obvious the French government were not pleased with our visit (to Crimea). But I repeat that we do not represent the French government, we represent deputies and what we are interested in in the French public opinion. The French government, in my opinion, is right now strongly involved in a game that is being lead by the European and the American politics. I want to remind you what happened as we discovered in France that most of the politicians and the businessmen were spied on by the Americans and there has been no reaction, not one." MEDIA END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 9th August 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6Z17WKDD4VT1G5X1GFBBOHILW
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A group of French MPs on Saturday (July 25) defended a recent visit to the Crimea peninsula, despite condemnation by France and Ukraine.
Ten opposition parliamentarians travelled to Simferopol, the capital of the annexed peninsula, the Black Sea resort of Yalta and later the port city of Sevastopol during a two-day visit, where they met local officials.
The French Foreign Ministry said the visit was a "violation of international law". Ukraine called the MPs "irresponsible".
But centre-right "Les Republicains" party MP, Theirry Mariani, on Saturday appeared unfazed by the criticism, comparing parts of Crimea to the south of France, during a news conference in the Russian capital, Moscow.
"We saw people, who were for most of them very happy that they returned to Russia, we didn't notice any military who were hiding in corners. We saw a situation, excuse me for the comparison but since we were in Yalta and since I am someone from the south of France, it (Crimea) appeared to me similar to the south of France," Mariani, who led the delegation, told reporters.
Mariani said the condemnation directed at the group was not justifiable, asking, "what are they afraid that we will see?"
The MP from the opposition party, led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, said he was satisfied that people living in Crimea were happy that Russia had annexed the peninsula last year.
"The only thing we want to say is that most of the people we met and we met many, seemed happy that they returned to Russia, and were reassured not to know the situation that some are facing in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk," said Mariani.
Both the French parliament and the French Foreign Ministry have said the group was not representing their institutions during the trip.
Claude Goasguen, another "Les Republicains" party MP, said he did not accept the stance of France's Foreign Ministry over Crimea.
"It's the duty of a lawmaker to know what is going on in this region like in the Middle East. And we have nothing but silence or disinformation from our foreign ministry. This is not admissible. This is the first reason why I came. It was not the first time. I came to see what is going on in Crimea, and I am looking at this objectively. My first reaction was that of shock to find that it is an entirely peaceful region," said Goasguen.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying the visit by the French ministers showed "disrespect for state sovereignty".
Mariani accused the French government of playing into the hands of the U.S. and other European countries.
"It is obvious the French government were not pleased with our visit (to Crimea). But I repeat that we do not represent the French government, we represent deputies and what we are interested in in the French public opinion. The French government, in my opinion, is right now strongly involved in a game that is being lead by the European and the American politics. I want to remind you what happened as we discovered in France that most of the politicians and the businessmen were spied on by the Americans and there has been no reaction, not one," said Mariani, adding the West needed to acknowledge that "the world is changing" when it comes to balance of power.
Sarkozy's "Les Republicains" party has in the past criticised the EU and the French government's stance on Crimea and their politics towards Russia.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs vowed consequences for the visit to Crimea by French MPs, including ban on entry into Ukraine. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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