NATO should stay away from Crimea

Carl I. Hagen. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Scanpix

NATO should stay away from the Crimean Peninsula

Frp veteran Carl I. Hagen told Russian television that the referendum held in 2014 to incorporate the Crimean peninsula with Russia should have been respected.

 

– People identify with an ethnic group. If some of Ukraine think they should be part of Russia, they should be able to say so in a referendum, and we should respect the result, ” said Carl I. Hagen, in an interview with Russian RT, according to NRK.

The referendum on detachment from Ukraine to become part of Russia again, was met with a wide international condemnation. The UN General Assembly also adopted a resolution condemning the Russian-supported poll that paved the way for the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Mr Hagen also said to the TV channel that NATO should keep away from the tense conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Kerts strait.

“I think NATO should stay away from Russia’s backyard. I do not understand why we cannot accept that Russia incorporates  Crimea where there are so many Russians , when the referendum in  Crimea showed that they want to be part of Russia. We should have respected that, he says.

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, after a large majority of its citizens voted for detachment from Ukraine and asked to become part of Russia.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today