Brussels: Europe and Arabs

A European statement issued in Brussels said that from September 9 to 11, regional and local elections were held in Russia as well as in the illegally annexed Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The statement issued by the Foreign Policy Department stressed that the European Union does not recognize the holding of these elections and their results in the Crimea. The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation is also not recognized by the European Union, which is a violation of international law.

The statement stressed that Crimea is Ukraine. Therefore, anyone who is “elected” in the illegally annexed Crimea during these elections, and will claim to “represent” the population of Crimea and Sevastopol, will not have any legitimacy and will not be recognized as a representative of those lands.

The European Union remains committed to its support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders and to the implementation of the non-recognition policy. Moreover, the European Union calls on Russia to immediately and unconditionally stop its illegal and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, and to withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.