By Caesar Vallejos
Eagle News Service
Several political figures and businessmen who attended the 4th Yalta International Economic Forum were one in their call for economic sanctions imposed on Russia, which has annexed Crimea, to be lifted.
The sanctions were imposed by the European Union and the United States in protest of the country’s alleged backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The forum, held at the Mria Resort and Spa in Crimea, was attended by around 600 foreign delegates from 71 countries, which include Austria and Germany.
“These are barriers that don’t fit in a modern world where people should work together with the world, grow together and exchange people ideas and thoughts on business concepts,” Detlef Wimmer, Vice Mayor of the State Capital Linz, Austria said.
According to Wimmer, “the economic sanctions prevent business people from investing in Crimea to work together..”
Apart from this, he said “political delegations are not allowed to come to Austria or the (EU) from Crimea because there will be problems concerning the issuance of their visa.”
“Locking thousands of people out, like what is done here, is not only bad for Crimea, but also bad for the rest of the world,” Wimmer said.
“Be open to the future and stick to the road of improvements that has been undertaken,” Wimmer added.
Like Wimmer, Gunnar Lindermann of the Afd-Fraktion, Berlin Parliament, who attended the forum with members of the German Bundestag and a group of businessmen, said that “sanctions” were “bad,” in particular also for the German eco-
nomy.
“German companies cannot bring the goods to Russia and we need the gas resources from Russia,” he explained.
Markus Frohnmaier, a member of the German Bundestag’s committee on economic cooperation and development, agreed.
He said that Germany has decreased its trade with Russia by 40% because of the sanctions.
“Sanctions cannot be the answer to improve or solve a conflict or political situation,” Frohnmaier said.
Lindermann added that “Russia is not bad for us,” as it was the terrorists who were “the people who are dangerous for the world.”
“We want to live in peace. We must find a way to work together and Russia is our friend and we need the business from Russia..If there is good business between two countries, and profitable for both sides, there will be no war between these countries,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of the media in helping attract investments despite the sanctions.
According to him, German newspapers did not tell the entire truth to the German people, with reports saying that “there are many people in green uniforms with guns running around.”
“But we did not see anyone of this kind,” he said.
