POTENTIAL economic sanctions against Russia due to developments in Ukraine would have the most adverse affects on the Visegrad Group (V4) region (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), the foreign affairs ministers of the group said, after meeting with their German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Budapest on March 13.
“If a third stage of economic sanctions is embraced against Russia, we expect to see the EU apply a principle of mutual solidarity among its members,” Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. He added that it is necessary to speed up the aid for Ukraine in trade, energy issues, EU Association Agreement and financial aid.
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák added that a second stage of sanctions is under consideration, like the personal sanctions, meaning “the freezing of accounts and travel bans for individuals”.
“The list of these individuals is being drafted at the moment and set to be approved on Monday [March 17],” Lajčák said, as quoted by TASR. “Furthermore, a so-called third stage of sanctions - economic sanctions - is being discussed, however, talking about its scope or potential date is premature for the time being.”
The meeting was also attended by Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek and Polish Foreign Deputy Secretary of State Artur Nowak-Far.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
