Five German AfD Lawmakers To Attend Yalta Int'l Economic Forum - Visit's Coordinator

At least five members of the German parliament from Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will visit Crimea to participate in the Yalta International Economic Forum, Yuri Gempel, the head of the Crimean parliament's committee on international relations, told journalists on Tuesday

SIMFEROPOL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th April, 2019) At least five members of the German parliament from Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will visit Crimea to participate in the Yalta International Economic Forum, Yuri Gempel, the head of the Crimean parliament's committee on international relations, told journalists on Tuesday.

"Five Bundestag lawmakers from Alternative for Germany parliamentary faction will visit Crimea to take part in the forum," Gempel said, adding that the delegation would arrive in Crimea on Wednesday.

According to Gempel, the lawmakers are interested in discussing cooperation with Crimea, especially in tourism.

Gempel stressed that the delegation would visit the peninsula despite the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's objection.

The AfD party has repeatedly called for changes in the EU-Russian relations, arguing that the West's Moscow sanctions, imposed in light of Crimea's reunification with Russia, should be lifted as soon as possible. In late March, Gempel praised the party's openness to a dialogue with Russia, especially on Crimea.

The Yalta International Economic Forum is an annual business event held in Crimea. The fifth edition of the forum will be held from Thursday to Saturday. The organizers expect more than 3,000 participants from about 100 countries. Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency is one of the general media partners of the event.