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Latvia's Decision on Anti-Russia Sanctions to Depend on Situation: EU Envoy

© Sputnik / Vladimir Sergeev / Go to the mediabankRelations between Russia and the EU have deteriorated with the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, as western governments imposed economic sanctions on Russia.
Relations between Russia and the EU have deteriorated with the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, as western governments imposed economic sanctions on Russia. - Sputnik International
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Latvia is willing both to alleviate or tighten sanctions against Russia - depending on the current situation, Latvian Envoy to the European Union said Friday.

BRUSSELS, November 21 (Sputnik) — Latvia is ready to both alleviate or strengthen sanctions against Russia, depending on the situation, Latvian Envoy to the European Union said Friday.

"From our national perspective and also from EU perspective sanctions is not a policy… sanctions are instrument, foreign policy instrument, not a goal. So we have supported sanctions when EU immediately react, but have always also said that if situation deescalate, which unfortunately is not the case, we are ready also to look and reduce sanctions. So my answer concerning sanctions towards Russia – we are ready to strengthen them, we are ready to reduce them if conditions are there," Ilze Juhanzone said while presenting in Brussels priorities of Latvian Presidency in European Union.

Starting from January 2015 Latvia will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Italy and will hold the role until June.

The European Union, the United States and a number of other countries imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over its alleged meddling in the Ukrainian internal conflict. The sanctions targeted the defense, energy and banking sectors of Russian economy. Moscow has repeatedly denied its involvement in the Ukrainian crisis and responded to the sanctions, implementing a one-year ban on certain food imports from the West.

In October Latvian Economy Minister Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis stated that Latvia's GDP had dropped by 0,25 percent due to Russia's food embargo.

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