Aleksander Sidyakin: ‘Europeans have a bee in the bonnet about presence of Kremlin agents around’

'Сall from the high quarters'

As media has already reported, I arrived to Krakow on 18 February to meet with deputies of the European Parliament from the faction 'Europe of Nations and Freedom', Secretary General of which is Ludovic de Danne – the closest associate of French politician Marine Le Pen.

It turned out that the very same day the organizers started to receive 'calls from the high quarters'. Almost Secretary to the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz himself has banned the representative of Russia to participate in the meeting with 'euro sceptics'. Thereby, the European officials once again demonstrated their own lack of independence. As in case of imposing of sanctions, only Washington will benefit from driving a wedge in bilateral relations between Russia and the EU.

I believe that this situation was not an exception. Europeans have a bee in the bonnet about presence of Kremlin agents around.

'Almost Secretary to the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz himself has banned the representative of Russia to participate in the meeting with 'euro sceptics'. On photo from s21.postimg.org – deputies of faction 'Europe of nations and freedoms'

Conversation did take place

Despite the official ban on the participation of Russian representatives in the round table on the theme 'Prosperity of Europe after the European Union', I managed to hold informal and open discussion with European politicians, which lasted more than five hours. We exchanged business cards and expressed willingness to continue our contacts, if they come to Russia.

The ban on participation in the discussion is odd, as the Russian Foreign Ministry currently does not consider the EU in the context of disintegration. But urgent issues such as migration crisis, the situation in Syria, the sanctions – all extremely worries European deputies. They were surprised that according to the Minsk agreement, Ukraine is obliged to reform the Constitution.

On the group photo, you can see to the left of me: Ludovic de Danne, an adviser to the leader National Front Marine Le Pen; Edouard Ferrand, French politician and a member of the European Parliament. Right: Janice Atkinson, a British MEP from the UKIP; Michal Marusik, a leader of the Polish party 'Congress of the New Right'; the Romanian MEP Lavrenty Rebega.

Two Frenchmen, English woman, Polish man and Romanian man – all of them represent the political forces of their countries, who do not want to spoil relations with Russia.

Two Frenchmen, English woman, Polish man and Romanian man – all of them represent the political forces of their countries, who do not want to spoil relations with Russia

'The European Union suffers huge losses'

I reminded them that the trade turnover in Russia with the countries of the European Union decreased from 450 billion euros to 215 billion euros. The reduction of European exports to Russia is a serious blow to individual industrial sectors of their countries. After the sanctions and the food embargo, the trade turnover between Russia and France fell by 40%. With Poland by 30%.

We replace imports from Europe with or own products. Polish apples, German dairy products, Dutch cheeses and French pork no longer reach the Russian market.

We provide ourselves with food at 90%. The European Union suffers huge losses, which could have been avoided if the sanctions, dictated to European politicians by the United States, had not been imposed.

Such international contacts indicate the presence in EU those politicians who are open to dialogue with Russia. We, in our turn, will continue to cooperate with our European associates.