Crimea Issue Serves As Example Of Double Standard - French Delegation

Sumaira FH Published March 14, 2019 | 04:18 PM

Everything that has happened since Crimea's reunification with Russia is an example of a double standard because what is considered legal in relation to Kosovo, which unilaterally seceded from Serbia, is deemed illegitimate when it comes to Crimea, former French transport minister and candidate in the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, Thierry Mariani, told Sputnik

YALTA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th March, 2019) Everything that has happened since Crimea's reunification with Russia is an example of a double standard because what is considered legal in relation to Kosovo, which unilaterally seceded from Serbia, is deemed illegitimate when it comes to Crimea, former French transport minister and candidate in the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, Thierry Mariani, told Sputnik.

On Wednesday, Mariani arrived in Crimea at the head of a delegation comprising honorary members of the French parliament and representatives of municipal authorities to attend celebrations dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the peninsula's reunification with Russia.

"Crimea is a story of double standards ... What was recognized as legal in Kosovo, is recognized as illegal in Crimea," Mariani said.

The politician noted that by making a "courageous" decision to reunite with Russia, Crimean residents had brought peace to the region.

Crimea's reunification with Russia was officially declared on March 18, 2014, after almost 97 percent of those participating in a referendum on the issue voted in favor of the move. The reunification has not been recognized by the absolute majority of the international community, with Russia being subject to numerous sanctions over what Western countries consider to be the annexation of Crimea.

Meanwhile, over a hundred UN member states have officially recognized the independence of Kosovo, which unilaterally proclaimed its independence in 2008. Russia, alongside another permanent member of the UN Security Council are among those who refused to endorse Kosovo's move.