A Question to The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs on The Western Sanctions on Crimea

Maria Apatzidi, a member of the Greek Parliament ("Mera-25" party) in accordance with parliamentary rules and procedures summitted a question to the Greek ministry of foreign affairs on the western sanctions on Crimea.

Here is the text:

Parliamentary question to the Greek ministry of foreign affairs on the western sanctions on Crimea. Reference in the Greek parliament on the Greek Club Friends of Crimea regarding its press releases and actions on restricted travel of Greek minority to travel to Greece due to the unacceptable western sanctions.

To the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Subject: "To lift the ban on the right of Greeks in Crimea to visit Greece."

Honorable Minister,

As we are informed by an announcement of the "Greek Club of Friends of Crimea", there is an unthinkable situation, which has been created due to the sanctions, which forbid the Greeks of Crimea to travel to Greece, due to disagreements with the policy pursued by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

More specifically, the policy of sanctions of the European Union does not serve any European interest, on the contrary it only adds problems and divisions to the old continent, which is completely suffering from such policies. The only interests it can serve are those of the short-sighted and outdated politicians of the transatlantic "allies", who dictate them.

In order to serve these interests only, foreign and for Greece and for Europe in general, the Greek political leadership condemns a part of Hellenism, to a ban on entering Greece and in fact in view of the summer.

Mr. Minister, Greece has the special privilege of uniting peoples and cultures. With its special place on the map, at the crossroads of peoples and their streets. With its great culture, which has been co-formed over the centuries through continuous and ongoing interaction with dozens of other cultures in the region and even further. But especially with its people, who live and create in all corners of this planet, without forgetting their origins and history.

This privilege is at the same time its debt to humanity and to Europe in particular. Greece cannot be anything less than a body of peace, cooperation and unity of peoples. It cannot stand for anything other than a Europe that respects the needs and interests, but also the right of self-determination of its peoples. And it will not sacrifice their prosperity and peaceful coexistence in the name of narrow interests and even foreign ones.

The right of the Greek minority in Crimea to visit Greece is self-evident and the Greek government has a duty to defend it in the European institutions and to do so immediately.

In view of the above,

The Prime Minister is asked:

• Will you intervene immediately in order to stop the irrational treatment of the Greeks in Crimea from Western sanctions and to lift the ban on their right to visit our country?

Member, Maria Apatzidi