Afghanistan respects Crimea’s right to self-determination – Karzai
Published time: March 22, 2014 22:31
Afghan President Hamid Karzai (Reuters / Mohammad Ismail)
Afghanistan, Politics, Russia, USA,Ukraine
Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a US congressional delegation that
he respects the decision of the people of Crimea to reunite with
Russia. His comment follows the March 16 referendum in which 96
percent of voters opted to join the Russian Federation.
The events in Crimea and Ukraine were among several issues discussed
in a Kabul meeting between Karzai and the group of Democratic and
Republican congressmen. The bipartisan delegation was led by Senator
Kelly Ayotte.
Karzai made it clear that Afghanistan respects the free will of the
people of Crimea and Sevastopol to decide their own future, the Afghan
president’s office said on its website.
Despite Western claims that the accession of Crimea to Russia will
never be recognized internationally, Afghanistan and many other
nations have backed the decision made by the Crimean population.
On Friday, Ukraine recalled its ambassador to Armenia after the
country’s president, Serzh Sargsyan, told Vladimir Putin in a phone
conversation that the Crimean referendum was a “model for the
realization of self-determination.”
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Venezuela, and North Korea
have also supported the right to self-determination for the people of
Crimea.
On Friday, Crimea and Sevastopol – which used to be part of Ukraine –
officially joined Russia, with President Putin signing the finalizing
decree.
Previously, Russian lawmakers ratified an international treaty with
Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which the sides signed at the
Kremlin on March 18.
Crimea’s rejoining of Russia was triggered by an armed coup in Kiev,
which saw democratically elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich
ousted.
The uprising of the predominantly Russian-speaking region of Crimea
began after the new self-proclaimed authorities passed a law revoking
the regional status of the Russian language.
It resulted in a referendum in which 83 percent of the Crimean
population participated. An overwhelming majority of over 96 percent
voted in favor of reunification with Russia.