Europe should decide its fate without using US ‘disservices’ – Russian Duma speaker
State Duma chairman, Sergey Naryshkin, has reiterated his advice to European countries to rule themselves and stop heeding meddlesome US advice that does more harm than good.
Naryshkin told reporters that currently various US representatives are taking active part in a number of European political organizations, where they enjoy full members’ rights. In this capacity, the US is affecting decisions concerning the fates of people and states thousands of kilometers from its borders.
“Isn’t it time for European countries to take their fate into their own hands and stop applying for the “services” of those who can only instigate conflicts ending in violence, destruction,humanitarian disasters and human casualties,” said the Duma speaker, as cited by RIA Novosti.
He also added that Russia is a European state and so it is concerned by US attacks on international law and fundamental European values. “We will ask our European colleagues to draw practical conclusions from this whole situation for the sake of peace and security on our common continent - the European continent,” Naryshkin promised.
The Lower House head also commented on his recent call for NATO countries to evict the United States from the bloc. He admitted that the statement was a joke, but noted that such measures, if they were real, would strengthen stability and security on the continent.
In a separate statement made in late October, Naryshkin said he believed the United States wanted to end mutual dialogue between Russia and Europe. He also noted this would not happen, as Russia would keep looking for every opportunity to mend ties with its neighbors.
Naryshkin’s comments came after the visit to the State Duma by PACE rapporteur on Ukrainian refugees, Jim Sheridan. The official discussed the humanitarian situation in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine as part of preparations for his report at the assembly’s January session that will, among other issues, consider the restoration of the Russian delegation’s powers.
Russian lawmakers said the information Sheridan collected in Kiev and Kharkov was very one-sided and contained factual mistakes, even as to the number of refugees who had fled the war zone to Russia. They also invited the rapporteur to visit the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as the Crimean Republic which seceded from Ukraine and joined the Russian Federation.
