© Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters
The following is an open letter, sent to RT by Rachida Dati, a French politician and Member of the European Parliament, and undersigned by 12 European politicians, that explains why EU sanctions against Russia should be lifted.
In October 2014, a few months after EU sanctions had been decreed against Russia, we already thought that missing the Russian partner was a mistake both on the political (on the Syrian conflict) and the economical level (for our agriculture), and we would pay it dearly.
Today, more than two years after the implementation of these sanctions in reaction to the situation in Ukraine, the warning signals are still red.
In July 2014, the European sanctions were extended to personalities including some of the Russian intelligence, preventing them from getting a visa and travel to the European Union. Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service and Mikhail Fradkov, director of foreign intelligence services, are both concerned by the sanctions.
Let us recall that
the United States has also imposed sanctions, mainly economic ones,
to Russia, but that they never went as far as jeopardizing their security cooperation with the heads of the intelligence service. So, why are we putting so much efforts in this, at the expense of our own security?
Comment: This is also the first Muslim mayor of London, and the inevitable anti-Muslim reaction has ensued. Ever get the feeling like everything that happens is just setting up for one big battle? Buttons are certainly being pressed, every sore spot of Western society is being poked, every fault line is being shaken. Interesting times.