Times: Irish foreign Minister criticized for supporting trade with Russia

Reuters
Irish foreign Minister Simon Covney was accused of a political miscalculation after a visit to Moscow, in which he advocated the growth of trade with Russia "even under sanctions and restrictions," will report Sunday's Appendix to the British newspaper The Times.

Thus, the former Minister of agriculture of the country noted that in 2014 Russia was an attractive market for the export of Irish food products, but then Moscow's relations with Brussels have undergone significant changes.

Kouni, arrived in Moscow in the beginning of the month in the hope of gaining the Kremlin's support of the application of Ireland for a place in the UN Security Council in 2021, said that last year the trade turnover between the two countries increased by 33%, and he hopes for continued growth. In addition, he stressed that he hopes to normalize relations with Russia.

However, such statements Couni did not receive support in his homeland. Thus, one of the leaders of the Irish social Democrats Catherine Murphy called his words "naive" and questioned the government's policy towards Russia.

"We will need help from Eastern European countries in connection with brexit. We must be aware of the reality of the fight against aggressive Russia. The government does not have a truly coherent strategy for the country. They're playing a dangerous game, — Murphy said. — The idea that we will be perceived as a country wishing to circumvent the sanctions is terrible."

The official liberal spokesman Niall Collins has warned Kowni that he should act very carefully, because his words "will be poorly received by people who relate well to Ireland throughout the international community."

Analyst of the European Council on foreign relations Gustav Gressel said that any attempt at reconciliation with Russia will be dangerous and problematic for Ireland.

"Every country — from Sweden, Finland, Poland and up to the Baltic States — considers Russia the biggest threat. All other issues are secondary. If you make Grand gestures towards Russia, the EU will notice it. Ireland must be extremely careful in this regard," says Gressel.

In addition, he believes that Ireland should not count on the support of Russia, as they believe that Dublin is in the sphere of American influence. The Kremlin will not want to see such a country in the security Council.

As The Times noted, in the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ireland declined to comment on Couni meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. They noted that the Ministers held a "productive meeting in Moscow, where they discussed bilateral political and economic relations, as well as a number of regional and international issues."