Even yet more signs indicating a fracture in the "solidarity" of E.U. members in the anti-Russian sanctions regime.
In the past, French E.U. members have visited Crimea and now their German counterparts have followed suit and like the French that went before them, have seen things for themselves: that the people of Crimea are happy and content and would rather remain with Mother Russia - where they have always and rightfully belonged - than be re-incorporated with the increasingly facist, ideological and maniacally delusional government back in Kiev.

Note that several individuals from key government officials to members of parliament in Europe have called for the lifting of these counterproductive sanctions and belief me, the calls will get louder and more frequent.

I expect the sanctions - sanctions that were only implemented after the dubious MH17 tragedy was immediately pinned on Russia - to be renewed this June though but I seriously doubt anyone would have the stomach to renew them when next they are due for renewal. And it wouldn't matter because by then, Russia would have by and large, dettached itself from the hegemonic tool of economic subjugation that is the Western financial system, her economy would have been back on the path of recovery and growth and her people better prepared than ever to withstand the schemes of the Hegemon having grinded out the hardship of the previous months. It is the farmers of Europe and the industries that rely so much on the Russian market that we must ask at the end of the day, if those sanctions were worth it.

So much for sanctions. So much for "isolating Russia."


[size=18pt]Russia-Germany hockey diplomacy in Crimea; German politicians in Crimea demand the immediate lifting of sanctions (VIDEO[/size])

[img]http://2.bp..com/-dq_3dyFHKXI/V0zSLh4DQFI/AAAAAAAACrM/HGmlEhZQ37QEUlfdP1rTjTfrNrVwkmRiACLcB/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-30%2Bat%2B6.50.46%2BPM.png[/img]
Russia-Germany hockey diplomacy in Crimea; German politicians in Crimea demand the immediate lifting of sanctions (VIDEO)

Russian text of the German speaker, from video at site: "I consider that we must lift the sanctions immediately. The German people are speaking out against the sanctions. Whenever I talk with ordinary people they all with one voice say it. "We have to get rid of the sanctions."
Video below the accompanying text.

[img]http://2.bp..com/-gtR3VOHawBA/V0zOL-tr1GI/AAAAAAAACrA/f8uJBMNmfa8SjkYO1U8IGpzgFEiRCWtkwCLcB/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-30%2Bat%2B6.34.15%2BPM.png[/img]
Yuri Hempel, event organizer. Text across top of screen: "German politicians in Crimea demand immediate lifting of sanctions" Screen cap from video at site.
NewsFront.ru, May 29, 2016
Report of News Front correspondents Anastasia Shkitina and Ivan Prokopov

A German delegation of representatives of the public and political life of Germany is visiting the capital of the peninsula.

The visit was organized as part of an extensive program of "Days of German Culture" and the "People's diplomacy" project, subtitled "Mutual understanding between peoples." They are on the peninsula from 25 May to 1 June.

In the capital of Crimea representatives of the German delegation attended a concert of the creative collectives of the people of Crimea.

The main purpose of the visit of the foreign guests is the creation of a positive image of the Crimea and Russia, as well as the breaking of the information blockade.

"The other day dozens of representatives of German business, social and political life of Germany arrived in order to get acquainted with the real situation in the country and to see what is happening. The main objective of this project - strengthening the image of our multinational peninsula in the international arena. We wish that as many people as possible in the world be aware that the Crimea is a territory of peace and harmony," said Yuri Hempel, the organizer of the event.

Also, in the Simferopol Ice Palace there was a friendly hockey match between the amateur teams from Simferopol and Stuttgart. Lagoda, the Simferopol hockey team, a part of the Night Hockey League of amateur teams of the Crimean Federal District, defeated the "Ice Wolves" from Stuttgart, whose players are former professional athletes, by a score of 8: 6.

On Monday, at 15.00 hockey players of the team Yalta "White Lion" will take to the ice against the "Ice Wolves" from Stuttgart. Free admission.

Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJd1N03mGWA

Ukronazis will not like this !

Zombies dey vex you still carry this can news come haha my guy

phrenology:
Zombies dey vex you still carry this can news come haha my guy

"Isolated Russia"

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this month, Reuters said, citing media reports. The European Commission said earlier that its president, Jean-Claude Juncker, plans to meet with President Vladimir Putin during the forum in Russia’s second-largest city.

Putin: "sanctions are nonsensical, counterproductive and have a boomerang effect"

Medvedev: "Europe themselves will ask the sanctions be lifted"

Europe: "Agbada don hook for barb wire. Biko, let's drop sanctions - and even recognize Crimea as Russian"


[size=18pt]Cracks in the Washington/EU wall: Another council will weigh in on ending sanctions and recognizing Crimea[/size]


[img]http://1.bp..com/-nUi4aNN5dOg/V08FLrWrT3I/AAAAAAAACrc/6LId6K4QVKcFKwJJAhke8BF65ec8LYL2wCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-06-01%2Bat%2B10.53.36%2BAM.png[/img]

The University at Quackenbrueck

"Sanctions ... have led to a 'catastrophic situation' for German agriculture"

Russian.RT, June 1, 2016
Translated from Russian by Tom Winter

The Parliament of the German city of Quakenbrück may consider recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, and repealing the anti-Russian sanctions. Andreas Maurer, Chairman of the Deputies of the Left faction of the city parliament, plans to introduce the statement.

As the politician said, the sanctions against the Russian Federation and the loss of Russian markets have led to a "catastrophic situation" for German agriculture.

"We can put such questions as they have done in Italy. I thought to appeal to my colleagues in East Germany, as they are there in most parliaments, and it is reality, to make such an appeal.

In my own parliament I will put this question unambiguously, although we do not have the majority there," sai Maurer as quoted by RiaNovosti.

He noted that this will "provide a platform for discussion and an opportunity for argument" and will "show the face of the other parties."

A day earlier, Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered to consider the possibility of a phased lifting of sanctions with Russia. He linked this process with the progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements on Ukraine.

Steinmeier acknowledged that there is growing resistance in the European Union to the extension of sanctions against Russia.

Recall, the French Parliament voted first in the EU for the lifting of sanctions against Russia.* The corresponding resolution was approved by the French National Assembly on April 28.

Further, in the Veneto region of Italy on May 18, the Council adopted a resolution calling on government to condemn the EU policy regarding the Crimea and to achieve the abolition of restrictions in respect of the Russian Federation.

In addition, in June a resolution on recognition of the Crimea will be presented in the regional councils in two more Italian regions - Lombardy and Liguria.

Translator follow-up: Another double-barreled resolution(Crimea, sanctions) will soon happen in another region of Italy, Tuscany.

From someone that has read the Minsk Agreements.

[size=18pt]French Lawmaker Urges France to Impose Sanctions on Kiev for NOT Implementing Minsk Agreement[/size]


ALEX CHRISTOFOROU
3 days ago 3 549
French lawmaker Thierry Mariani says sanctions should be imposed against Ukraine its failure to implement a single reform in the Minsk accords.


Some lawmakers in Europe are logical, fact driven people. Take French lawmaker Thierry Mariani. Here is a man who has actually read the Minsk 2 Agreement, and has come to the undeniable conclusion that sanctions must be placed on Ukraine for not adhering to one single part of the accord it signed.


Fact: Russia is not mentioned once in the Minsk 2 Agreement and is not a party to its terms.

Why the sneaky elite in Brussels continue to say that sanctions must remain on Russia until Minsk is implemented is completely misleading. Brussels logic discourages Ukraine, an actual party and signatory to Minsk 2, from carrying out the terms it is obligated to carry out, because the dumb EU leaders have tied lifting of Russian sanctions to Kiev implementing Minsk. How is that for EU logic?

Might as well place sanctions on the US as well…that is until Ukraine implements Minsk. Fair is fair, and tons of US troops and weapons were poured into Donbass to ignite the brutal civil war, not mention McCain Maidan pep rallies, and Nuland cookie parties.

Now back to French lawmaker Mariani, who rightly told Russian Izvestia newspaper on Friday…

“So far, the Verkhovna Rada has not carried out a single reform stipulated by the Minsk II accords. This is why we back the lifting of sanctions against Russia. Excuse me, but logically, there are two ways. First, anti-Russian sanctions must be lifted, and second, sanctions must be introduced against Ukraine. Because right now, Kiev is showing disrespect by failing to implement the Minsk accords. The main responsibility is with the Ukrainian side.”

Sputnik News provides more context to Mariani’s interview…

In April, the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, supported a resolution calling to lift the sanctions imposed on Russia. The French Senate will vote on the resolution on June 8. According to French lawmakers, the bill was met with almost unanimous support in the Senate Committee for the European Affairs.

The chances of the Senate approving the resolution are high, Mariani said, adding that the upper house is dominated by his opposition party The Republicans, which had a harder time pushing the resolution through the Socialist-dominated lower house.

“This resolution send a certain signal to the government…popular opinion appears to contradicts the idea of sanctions,” he stressed.

I'll just leave this here. For the Russophobes, please be sure to read the comments in bold and italics

[size=18pt]'Something is moving in Italy': Liguria adopts resolution to lift anti-Russia sanctions[/size]
Published time: 29 Jun, 2016 22:12

The southern coast of Crimea in the vicinity of the Big Yalta. © Sergey Malgavko


The parliament in Liguria in northwestern Italy has voted in favor of a resolution to recognize Crimea as part of Russia and lift anti-Russia sanctions. Liguria became the second region to adopt the resolution, with more votes expected in other parts of Italy.
The regional lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution on Wednesday, with 26 out of 31 deputies calling on the national authorities to change the country's stance on the issue.

READ MORE:Recognize Crimea as Russian, lift harmful sanctions: Italy’s Veneto passes defiant resolution

"The members of the [regional] parliament voted to recognize the right of self-determination of the people of Crimea and to lift the sanctions," Italian politician Stefano Valdegamberi, who is behind the motion, told RT, adding that it's "great news, great results."



A general view of the Italian Senate is seen during a debate in Rome, Italy. © Remo Casilli
Read more Italian senate refuses to back automatic renewal of anti-Russian sanctions
Although the resolution is not legally binding, "It's a message that a region of Italy gives to the Italian government, and it's very significant," the politician said, adding that it has also been supported by members of Italy's ruling Democratic Party. "It is very important. More Italian regions force the government to change its foreign policy," Valdegamberi said.

READ MORE: France wants sanctions on Russia lifted soon – foreign minister

Calling on Rome to condemn the EU’s stance on Crimean reunification with Russia and scrap its restrictive measures against Moscow, the document authorizes the chairman of Liguria's regional council and the head of the region to cooperate with the government and the parliament of Italy on the issue.

Saying that the sanctions are getting "more absurd, especially with the Brexit effects," the politician said that Italy needs to "open its market to Russia and not to close it." Highlighting negative effects that the policy of restrictions and similar counter-measures have on European economies, he said that "Italian people don't understand the motivation behind these sanctions."

A mass protest against the sanctions is being organized in Italy's Verona in northern Veneto region, Valdegamberi told RT, saying that "something is moving in Italy now."


Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 17, 2016. © Mikhail Metzel / TASS
Read more Putin urges EU to restore cooperation with Russia, says Moscow is ready to meet halfway
Such regional votes show "that the process of anti-Russian propaganda in the context of Ukraine has not only come to a dead end, it is also starting to rewind and work against those who launched it," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said, adding that "this is just the beginning."

In May, the defiant resolution to recognize Crimea as Russian and lift the sanctions was adopted in the Veneto region. Expecting a profound political effect, the document's authors then said that the Italian government should "immediately" and in full restore economic ties with Russia, imposed by the US and the EU in spring 2014 after Crimea's decision in a referendum to reunite with Russia.

READ MORE: Russia prolongs Western food embargo until end of 2017

Italy's Lombardy with its capital city of Milan is to vote on a similar resolution in early July.

Uncle Shmuel had better call this errant states to book. Sanctions must not be lifted o!

[size=18pt]Tuscany becomes 4th Italian region to urge lifting of anti-Russian sanctions[/size]
Published: 6 Jul 2016 | 15:15 GMT


Tuscany becomes 4th Italian region to urge lifting of anti-Russian sanctions
Reuters
The legislative assembly of the Italian province of Tuscany has unanimously backed a resolution urging the lifting of the EU’s sanctions against Russia, following in the footsteps of several of the country’s other regions.

The vote at Tuscany’s Regional Council, where the majority is held by the ruling Democratic party, took place on Wednesday.

The Lega Nord (Northern League) political party, which initiated the resolution, told TASS it was supported by all 33 council members.

Read more

The Santa Maria Nascente Cathedral in Milan © Vladimir Astapkovich ‘Absolute blindness in the EU’: Italy’s wealthiest region urges lifting of Russia sanctions


The bill instructs the regional government “to activate the work with the government and parliament of Italy” to adopt “any practical initiative aimed at overcoming the sanctions” against Moscow.

Unlike resolutions adopted by other Italian regions, the Crimean issue was not mentioned in the text of the Tuscan bill.

Lombardy, Veneto and Liguria had all previously acknowledged the right for self-determination of the people of Crimea, who voted to reunite with Russia in 2014 after having been part of Ukraine, and urged the Italian government and the EU to offer similar recognition.

READ MORE: 'Something is moving in Italy': Liguria adopts resolution to lift anti-Russia sanctions

Italian regional resolutions are non-binding, but Lega Nord believes that they represent “a serious political signal” to Rome and Brussels.

"We intend to bring similar draft resolutions to table in two provinces where Lega Nord is represented in regional councils – Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna,” said Gianluca Savoini, party spokesman and head of the Lombardy-Russia Association.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the European Union deteriorated over the crisis in Ukraine.

READ MORE: Italian senate refuses to back automatic renewal of anti-Russian sanctions

Brussels followed the US’ lead and introduced several rounds of sanctions against Moscow over the reunion with Crimea and for Russia’s alleged meddling in the Ukrainian conflict.

Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations and introduced its own restrictions against the West, including a ban on food imports from the EU.

[size=18pt]Cyprian parliament adopts resolution on lifting anti-Russian sanctions[/size]
Published time: 7 Jul, 2016 20:17

Lawmakers participate in a parliamentary session in Nicosia © Yorgos Karahalis


The parliament of Cyprus has passed a resolution urging the government to work on the removal of anti-Russian sanctions by a majority vote. The document also urges the government to create the conditions for Russia to lift its ban on Cyprian goods.

Read more:

[size=18pt]After recognizing Crimea, Italian party announces exit from the EU[/size]



August 2, 2016

Pravda.ru

Translated from Russian by Kristina Kharlova



Italian party "Northern League" is the first political force in the EU to recognize Crimea as Russian. Its head, a member of the European Parliament Matteo Salvini talked about the thoughts of Italians about Brexit, the dictate of Brussels and Washington and the threat of terrorism coming from Libya.

According to Izvestia, the Italian party "Northern League" is the first political force in the EU to recognize Crimea as Russian. The party is rapidly gaining popularity.

Currently the League has 12 members in Italian Senate, 18 in the chamber of deputies and 5 in the European Parliament. The leader of Italian eurosceptics is very popular in Italy.

According to him, recently, "The British have demonstrated that they do not accept the EU format. Their choice was pragmatic and in the interests of the British state. The British simply ran away from the bureaucratic monster in Brussels. If, or rather when the "Northern League" will come to power in Italy, we will immediately hold a referendum on Ital-exit. And I am confident that the majority of Italians will support the country's withdrawal from the EU."

Salvini also underlined that the Libyan catastrophe was a result of European policies. First to blame is the government of France and Barack Obama. In fact, the U.S. exerted direct pressure on European politicians.

"Italian government, in turn, continues to take in hundreds and thousands of immigrants. We need to follow the example of Hungary and Austria and close our borders. However, the Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi listens to direct orders from Brussels and Washington, which leads to disastrous and dramatic results for our country," - said Salvini.

He added that the welfare state is no longer working as it did a few years ago: there is an economic crisis in Europe. This also affects the standard of living of Italians, so the government should take care first and foremost about the Italians, who have no jobs, or means of subsistence.

"Italy is a country without political and fiscal sovereignty. What can the Italian government do, but to obey the dictate? If the next government will follow a sovereign line, then all these issues will be discussed, and the policy will be different - it will be in the interests of Italians," - concluded the politician.