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State Department attempts negative background for Putin’s trip to India

On December 11, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was "troubled" Aksyonov may be part of Putin's delegation and was seeking more information

Crimea’s top official Sergei Aksenov Alex Pavlishak /TASS

Crimea’s top official Sergei Aksenov

© Alex Pavlishak /TASS

SIMFEROPOL, December 14. /TASS/. The statements made by representatives of the U.S. Department of State, related to the first international trip made by Crimea’s head, are aimed at making a “negative background” for the visit of Russia’s president to India, Crimea’s top official Sergei Aksenov said on Sunday.

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Putin: ties with India foreign policy priority for Russia

“The Department of State would not want Russia to improve its positions,” he told reporters. “Clearly, the Russian president is discussing global issues, and Aksenov was used to attempt dampening or distorting results of the negotiations of our president with India’s president and prime minister.”

However, he said, those actions “have not brought any results” to the U.S. representatives. “During the trip, this country’s leadership achieved the objectives they had. With the Indians we discussed various business topics and we share an understanding how to proceed with implementation of projects. For further cooperation, we have invited to Crimea representatives of India’s businesses.”

On Thursday, Georgy Muradov, Crimea’s vice-premier and the permanent representative of the Republic of Crimea under the Russian president said a group of Indian businessmen will visit Crimea under an agreement with Crimea’s head Sergei Aksyonov.

“Indian businessmen have great interest in Crimea. They are ready to implement investment projects on the peninsula. Therefore, there is an agreement that several groups of Indian businessmen will visit Crimea soon,” Muradov told TASS.

He also said that a group of Indian journalists was also planning to pay a visit to Crimea.

“They will represent India’s biggest media outlets. They will tell the people of India about Crimea,” Muradov emphasized.

During the visit to India, Aksyonov signed a memorandum of understanding between Crimea and the Indian-Crimean Partnership, an association of Indian business circles on the sidelines of his trip.

Tourism is another promising area of cooperation between India and Crimea, according to Aksyonov.

“I am sure that Indian businessmen will be interested in building hotels in the territory of Crimea and in forming tourist flows from India to Crimea,” Aksyonov told journalists adding that the presidential decree on Special Economic Zone in Crimea will create good conditions for investors.

“Crimea as part of Russia is searching for partners to implement investment projects in the republic’s territory, exchange views and form a convenient business environment,” Aksyonov said in conclusion.

On December 11, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was "troubled" Aksyonov may be part of Putin's delegation and was seeking more information.

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Foreign policy India

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