Sanctions policy of the European Union towards Russia harm the interests of the EU, said the former Minister of foreign Affairs of Italy Franco Frattini.
" I think the European Union is obliged to reconsider the sanctions policy, which, I think, detrimental to the interests of the EU. Much more important at present to reduce the level of tension and to protect further confrontation with Russia, " he said in an interview to television channel RT.
Frattini expressed the hope that the Italian government will try to persuade other European countries to return to a policy of cooperation, and not to follow the path of confrontation and punishment.
Relations between Russia and the West has been exacerbated by the crisis in the Ukraine. At the end of July, the EU and the US from point penalties with respect to certain individuals and organizations have moved to the measures against entire sectors of the Russian economy, as well as among them, banking, defense, and energy. In response, Russia has restricted the import of food items from countries that have introduced in relation to penalties: USA, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway.
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