State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin on Thursday will hold a meeting with the delegation of the French Parliament headed by co-chair of the Association Franco-Russian dialogue ", people's Deputy of the National Assembly Thierry Mariani.

After negotiations, the French deputies have plans to go to the Crimea, where he will visit Yalta, Simferopol and Sevastopol will hold a series of meetings with the local leadership. The composition of the French delegation, headed by Mariani, includes nine other parliamentarians, including Senator Yves Pozzo di Borgo, the people's Deputy, the Mayor of the XVI district of Paris Claude Goasguen as well as different regions of France.

Coordinator of the parliamentary group for relations with the Parliament of France, Head of the state Duma on CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky said that "this is the first large delegation of Western European politicians and parliamentarians, starting with the" Crimean spring ". According to his vision, this visit will open a new page in the Interparliamentary dialogue between Russia and Europe on the Crimean issue.

Head of the state Duma on international Affairs Alexei Pushkov believes that the visit of French parliamentarians in the Crimea is a serious step that shows that in the EU there are significant political forces, demonstrating the ability to rise above " uskorenie considerations and the desire to understand the sentiment on the Peninsula.

Speaking about the upcoming meeting with Naryshkin, Pushkov said that she will be the third in a relatively short period." If to consider, because it is one of the most difficult periods in our relations with Western countries, and France, in connection with the crisis around Ukraine, I must admit that the French elected officials are most active in the field of contacts with Russia, " - said before the people's choice Last news .

in Paris considered the failures of international law MPs visit this state in the Crimea, said the official representative of the foreign Ministry of France Romain Nadal. In the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine told that the trip of the French deputies in the Crimea is disrespect to the Ukrainian laws and will not remain without consequences.

Crimea became a Russian region After the March 2014 referendum in which a Large number of residents, do not recognise the legitimacy of the February coup in Ukraine, voted for joining the Russian Federation. In the capital of Russia notice that the referendum in Crimea complies with international law and the UN Charter.

sections: Politics