Russian President delivers special message on merging Crimea with Russia
(VOVworld) – Crimea’s
referendum on merging with Russia
fully conforms to democratic principles, said Russian President Vladimir Putin
in his special speech at the Kremlin on Tuesday. From now on, Crimea
will have 3 official languages: Russian, Ukrainian, and Tatar.
|
Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R), Crimea's Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov (front L), Crimean parliamentary speaker Vladimir Konstantinov (back L) and Sevastopol Mayor Alexei Chaliy shake hands after a signing ceremony at the Kremlin.(Photo: Reuteurs)
|
Putin said Crimea is
historically part of Russia’s
territory and is always in the hearts of Russian people. Crimea’s merging with Ukraine was a personal
mistake. The coup in Kiev and legislative
decisions of Ukraine’s
caretaker government have harmed Ukrainians’ interests and discriminated against
Russian-speaking communities in Crimea.
Putin cited international
law to defend the legality of Crimea’s
declaration of independence. He mentioned the precedence of Serbia’s Kosovo and Ukraine’s
declaration of independence from the Soviet Union
20 years ago.
Following an announcement
by G8 leaders of suspending Russia’s
membership, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK has stopped all its military co-operation
with Russia.
He said a technical co-operation agreement and a joint naval exercise involving
Russia, the UK, France,
and the US
have been postponed.
US President Barack Obama
urged G7 to hold a summit next week to discuss sanctions against Russia. German
Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted that Crimea’s merging with Russia and Crimea’s
declaration of independence have violated international law. Meanwhile, French
President Francois Hollande called on the EU to respond “strongly and
unanimously” to Russia’s
merging with Crimea and said France
does not recognise this move.
In response to the
criticism, Putin said the West’s schemes to impose sanctions against Russia will be
regarded as provocative and will draw retaliation. He said Russia never
intends to confront the West but must protect its interests, adding that the
West has exceeded its authority.