Tue, 16/12/2014 - 19:04
MINSK, 16 December (BelTA) – Sanctions cause damage and bring no benefits. The opinion was voiced by Romano Prodi, former prime minister of Italy, President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation, in Minsk on 16 December, BelTA has learned.
“The present fall of the Russian ruble has to do more with decreasing oil prices than the sanctions against Russia. The fall was unexpected but it is related to the loans granted to oil-extracting companies. Certainly, the sanctions, which are very damaging for Russia and the countries Russia trades with, have contributed to the overall effect,” noted Romano Prodi. In his words, these sanctions have caused damage to Italy, too.
“Meanwhile, the USA has been affected by the sanctions in the least. The situation is asymmetrical. Proponents of the sanctions — the USA — have been least affected by the sanctions while the countries that didn't want these sanctions have been damaged a lot. My scientific experience indicates that sanctions do damage and bring no benefits more often than not,” he said.
According to the former prime minister of Italy, sanctions damage poor population strata most of all. This is true both for Russia and Italy. “But I hope that the sanctions will end soon and a productive dialogue with regard to Ukraine will take place. I have always said that Ukraine should be a bridge, not a battlefield,” stressed Romano Prodi. In his words, the prohibition on Ukraine's participation in NATO was one of the latest legal acts approved by the Italian government. Italy voted against it just like Germany and France did. “The motivation stated that Ukraine belongs neither to the West or Russia. Ukraine is on its own. And I see ways to resolve this situation. Naturally every case should be treated individually but I am confident that it is always possible to find a way out,” said the President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation.
In his opinion, the crisis in Ukraine could have been resolved at the very start if the USA, Russia, and Europe had agreed to provide financial aid to Ukraine. “It would have become the link between the three sides and could have prevented the consequent escalation of the conflict. Certainly, this scenario may look utopian but unconventional solutions are sometimes in order,” stressed Romano Prodi.
source: http://eng.belta.by/all_news/politics/Italys-former-prime-minister-condemns-sanctions-as-unbeneficial_i_78152.html
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