German government urges German deputies not to visit Crimea after their French colleagues

If German deputies decide to follow the example of their French colleagues to visit Crimea, which became part of Russia on results of the March 16, 2014 referendum, they will not contribute to smoothing differences between Russia and the West, Christiane Wirtz, the German government’s deputy spokesperson, told a briefing on Monday.


"I doubt that under the current circumstances such a step would contribute to settling the conflict," she said.
Wirtz said that under all international laws Crimea belongs to Ukraine, and that no one could go there without prior consultations with the Ukrainian authorities.

The press service of the Left, a German opposition party, told TASS earlier on Monday that German deputies could visit the peninsula some time in future but not now because of parliament’s summer recess when most German deputies were away on their vacation.

"You are asking in connection with the French deputies’ trip to Crimea. They had an invitation. If we received an invitation here, then it could be discussed," the Left’s press service said......http://tass.ru/en/world/812284
3/8/15
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Related:

• German Bundestag members are considering visit to Crimea

• Des députés allemands sont prêts à suivre l'exemple de leurs collègues français.

• Italian lawmakers to follow their French colleagues’ lead and visit Crimea

• Visit of French MPs to Crimea to destroy myth of ‘aggressive Russia’ (Russian lawmaker)

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