RIA Novosti: Official Andrey Nikitin says annexation of Crimea will benefit Russian economy, in the long run

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(RIA Novosti – March 19, 2014) Gorki, 19 March: Crimea’s becoming part of the Russian Federation may temporarily damage Russia’s investment image, but in the long run Russia will only benefit [from it], the director-general of the Strategic Initiatives Agency (ASI), Andrey Nikitin, has said.

“I think that those who fell for these scare stories and will leave Russia or limit their investment now will lose a lot because Russia is a country where money can be made… [punctuation as received] Perhaps over a short period of time we will lose something,” he told journalists.

“However, you have to agree that money is like love: everyone wants a responsible, reliable partner, who honours his word. Russia is a country that does certain things in an honest and open manner. I think that strategically we will only benefit from having a stance, from not letting some individuals from across the ocean dictate to us what to do. In reality, that is more important. Therefore, I think that in t! he short-term there will be risks, but not from a systemic point of view,” he said.

CIS European States

Comment