Anti-Russian OSCE PA Resolution Initiated From Outside Europe - Italian MP

Sergio Divina, a lawmaker from Italy’s Eurosceptic Lega Nord Party, said the draft resolution accusing Russia of allegedly violating Ukraine’s sovereignty after the February 2014 coup came at a time when Italy and entire Europe were interested in a dialogue with Moscow.

HELSINKI (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova –  Ukraine and Canada have put forth a draft resolution that condemns Russia’s alleged involvement in Ukraine’s internal crisis, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.

"This way Canada and the United States are trying to swing the decision of the Europeans in the direction that might be not in the best interest of Europe," Divina said.

He added the "awkward thing" about the anti-Russia document under discussion at the OSCE PA was that it was initiated from outside Europe and did not have Europe's best interest at heart.

He stressed that Russia’s experience was crucial to rolling back the insurgency of the Islamic State militant group in the Middle East that threatened to spill over to the European Union, which suffers under an increased immigration inflow since early 2015.

"Russia should stay with Europe on these specific issues because, firstly, Russia is a world power that has military capabilities to fight the IS [Islamic State] and secondly, Russia has an experience in fighting internal terrorism," he noted.

He condemned Russia’s exclusion from the OSCE meeting in Finland and compared the latest attack on Russia with football fans' support of their favorite team, which is always passionate but seldom based on facts.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Helsinki is taking place on July 5-9. The Russian delegation is not participating because they were denied visas by the Finnish authorities.