Rome against sanctions becoming norm of West-Russia relations - Italian ambassador tells Interfax
MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - Sanctions targeting Russia today should go away, and these restrictions and their economic implications cannot be the norm in relations between Russia and the West, Italian Ambassador in Moscow Pasquale Terracciano said in an interview with Interfax.
"We are absolutely convinced, and we don't miss any chance to repeat it on all international platforms, that sanctions and their economic consequences for Russia and individual countries of the European Union can't be the new norm in relations between Russia and the West. They should go away in the future," he said.
All political forces represented in the Italian parliament share this position, he said.
"Therefore, these are temporary measures, the duration of which depends exclusively on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements," Terracciano said.
"I would like to remind you that among countries of Europe it is Italy that has always insisted that at each debate on extending these sanctions detailed discussions should be held on steps that have been taken to implement these agreements," he said.