UKRAINE-CRISIS/CRIMEA-FRENCH MPS French MPs visit Crimea despite condemnation at home and in Ukraine

Record ID: 146380

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/CRIMEA-FRENCH MPS French MPs visit Crimea despite condemnation at home and in Ukraine
  • Date: 24th July 2015
  • Summary: PEOPLE IN PARK FLAGS ON PARK GATES
  • Embargoed: 8th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA60I8CTG76REAFUJDAZ2AK2FBS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A group of French MPs went ahead with controversial visit to Crimea peninsula despite condemnation by France and Ukraine.
    Ten opposition parliamentarians arrived in Simferopol, the capital of the annexed peninsula on Thursday (July 23) afternoon.
    They had a meeting with local officials and later head to the Black Sea resort of Yalta.
    One of the MPs, Marie-Christine Dalloz, a Secretary of The Parliamentary Finance Commission, said her Crimean experience exceeded her expectations.
    "Crimea and the city of Yalta are so welcoming. It looks completely different to what we've expected. I am happy, that I have seen a lot of happy people, I even had a discussion with a Crimean Tatar, who said that he was happy to be a part of today's Crimea. I think this is important," Dalloz said.
    In Yalta MPs took a stroll along the famous city embankment and talked to tourists and residents.
    On Friday (July 24) French MPs travelled to the Black Sea port of Sevastopol and laid flowers to the monument to the defenders of the city during WWII. They also visited two French sites - a military cemetery and a French language charity.
    Most of the MPs belong to the centre-right "Les Republicains" party of French former President Nicolas Sarkozy.
    The head of the group, former French transport and environment minister, Thierry Mariani, told media in Moscow before heading to Crimea that the MPs travelling there had been advised by the parliament speaker and the foreign ministry to abstain from the trip.
    He added that the group of MPs travelling to Crimea does not represent neither French government nor parliament.
    Sarkozy's "Les Republicains" party criticised the EU and French government stance on Crimea and their politics towards Russia.
    Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned French MPs of consequences, including ban on entry into Ukraine, if they go ahead with visit to Crimea.
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