President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Anne Brasseur has said he strongly condemns Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Crimea, and annex it into the Russian Federation.
“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Russia’s decision to
recognize the independence of Crimea, and annex it into the Russian
Federation, which is in violation of the statute and basic principles of
the Council of Europe, as well as with Russia’s commitments to the
organization. All member states of the Council of Europe must respect
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states,” Brasseur
press service quotes him as saying.
The President of the Assembly and the leaders of its political
groups, together with the co-rapporteurs on Ukraine of the Assembly’s
Monitoring Committee, will visit Ukraine from 22 to 24 March 2014 to
discuss the ongoing crisis.
