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German Parliamentarian: Western Sanctions Against Russia Step in Wrong Direction

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The EU sanctions against Russia are a step in the wrong direction, Peter Gauweiler, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Foreign cultural and educational policies of the German Bundestag, told Bild Saturday.

MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) – The EU sanctions against Russia are a step in the wrong direction, Peter Gauweiler, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Foreign cultural and educational policies of the German Bundestag, told Bild Saturday.

"Right now, culture and art are important bridges in preventing a new 'Cold War'," Gauweiler was quoted as saying by the German newspaper.

"Russia is a part of Europe! Sanctions are the wrong way," he added.

Gauweiler supports Moscow's stance in Ukraine and Crimea's reunification with Russia, citing Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn author of "The Gulag Archipelago," who claimed "The extended south of the current Ukrainian Soviet Republic and many areas on the left side of the Dnieper River historically never belonged to Ukraine."

"Whoever wants to judge Russia, must understand Russia," Gauweiler said.

The German politician believes Russian President Vladimir Putin's policies in Ukraine are tightly linked with Russian mentality and identity.

On Friday, the European Union and the United States ratcheted up sanctions on Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis – the claim that Moscow has repeatedly denied. The newly-imposed restrictions target Russian banking, oil and defense sectors. The sanctions complicate access to EU and US credit for a number of key Russian banks and oil and defense companies. In addition, they banned the provision of technical and other assistance to Russian companies in oil exploration and production, specifically in the areas of Arctic Sea drilling and shale oil projects.

Russian President Putin labeled the sanctions as counterproductive and ineffective, while both EU and American officials suggested that the sanctions could be reviewed, reevaluated and removed if the situation in Ukraine improves.

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