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RIA Novosti
Italy does not recognize the occurrence of Crimea in structure of the Russian Federation “in any form”, said Italian foreign Minister Angelino Alfano.
“If we admitted it, it would be news. Our position remains the same, we do not recognize the annexation in any form. This is a clear position, shared by the EU, the “Big seven” and any other format,” he told reporters after talks with foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin.
Crimea became a Russian region after held there in March 2014 referendum in which 96.77% of voters of the Republic of Crimea and 95.6% of residents of Sevastopol voted for joining Russian Federation. Crimean authorities held a referendum after a coup in Ukraine in February 2014. Ukraine still considers Crimea its but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter voted for reunification with Russia. According to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue “is closed permanently.”