Keating outlines Irish delegation’s stance on Crimea ahead of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

“As a representative of the Irish parliament, I will travel to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) in Vienna on 18^th February where a new Russian representative to the PA will be appointed. The candidate is Ms Olga Kovitidi who represents Crimea. This presents a problem”, says Derek Keating, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West.

“While the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is independent of the intergovernmental process, and follows its own rules of procedure, Ireland does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. On 3^rd April, 2014 the then Minister for European Affairs, Pascal Donohoe brought forward a Dáil motion which condemned the annexation and set out the Government position.

“I intend to underline this non-recognition policy. I am hopeful that this issue will be resolved satisfactorily to allow the OSCE PA to assume its role as a forum for dialogue and engagement on the conflict in Ukraine.

“I look forward to attending the meeting in Vienna on behalf of the Houses of the Oireachtas.”