30.03.2012
Russia upset about another Europe’s anti-Belarus resolution
MOSCOW, 30 March (BelTA-ITAR-TASS) – The Russian State Duma has been left puzzled and upset with yet another European Parliament’s anti-Belarus resolution calling for relocating the 2014 IIHF World Championship from Minsk.
“This is too much,” Chairman of the State Duma’s committee for the CIS and relations with compatriots Leonid Slutsky said.
Speaking about the EU policy towards Belarus in general, Leonid Slutsky stated that this line of antagonism brings nothing constructive. First of all, such an approach is destructive for the European Union itself. It deprives the EU from a chance to build up a dialogue with Belarus.
“The future of the European architecture is unreal without Belarus. They should cooperate, leave aside the practice of labeling this or that unwanted state, thesis, document,” the official said.
The opinion was echoed by first vice-chairman of the State Duma’s committee for international affairs Andrei Klimov. If everyone is to follow this scheme, then Russia should call upon the international community for boycotting all mass and sports events in the Baltic states, for instance, where, according to the Russian authorities, human rights are severely violated. “We hope the EU authorities, international ice hockey federations will make up wise decisions this time,” Andrei Klimov said.
The European Parliament advocates moving the 2014 IIHF World Championship from Belarus.
The European MPs call upon the EU national ice hockey federations and other democratic countries to persuade the International Ice Hockey Federation reconsider its decision on the 2014 IIHF World Championship and move the tournament to another country.
Resolutions of the European Parliament are not mandatory and are recommendatory. Nevertheless the EU countries and institutions usually take them into account.
“This is too much,” Chairman of the State Duma’s committee for the CIS and relations with compatriots Leonid Slutsky said.
Speaking about the EU policy towards Belarus in general, Leonid Slutsky stated that this line of antagonism brings nothing constructive. First of all, such an approach is destructive for the European Union itself. It deprives the EU from a chance to build up a dialogue with Belarus.
“The future of the European architecture is unreal without Belarus. They should cooperate, leave aside the practice of labeling this or that unwanted state, thesis, document,” the official said.
The opinion was echoed by first vice-chairman of the State Duma’s committee for international affairs Andrei Klimov. If everyone is to follow this scheme, then Russia should call upon the international community for boycotting all mass and sports events in the Baltic states, for instance, where, according to the Russian authorities, human rights are severely violated. “We hope the EU authorities, international ice hockey federations will make up wise decisions this time,” Andrei Klimov said.
The European Parliament advocates moving the 2014 IIHF World Championship from Belarus.
The European MPs call upon the EU national ice hockey federations and other democratic countries to persuade the International Ice Hockey Federation reconsider its decision on the 2014 IIHF World Championship and move the tournament to another country.
Resolutions of the European Parliament are not mandatory and are recommendatory. Nevertheless the EU countries and institutions usually take them into account.