The People's Diplomacy Norway independent association, which works to promote dialogue between Norway and Russia, is holding a conference later this month to dispel the existing prejudices spread by Norwegian media about the situation in Crimea, Hendrik Weber, the president of the association, told Sputnik on Wednesday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2019) The People's Diplomacy Norway independent association, which works to promote dialogue between Norway and Russia, is holding a conference later this month to dispel the existing prejudices spread by Norwegian media about the situation in Crimea, Hendrik Weber, the president of the association, told Sputnik on Wednesday."This month we will hold a conference in Oslo to tell the truth about the situation in Crimea to the Norwegian citizens ... Our mainstream media [is] always telling the story (including our government) that Crimea is occupied and annexed by Russia. We don't believe that is right and we want to show the other side," Weber said.
The conference, which will take place on March 28, will also address the issue of international sanctions that were imposed on certain individuals in Crimea as well as discuss Russia's view on the situation surrounding the peninsula, he added.
The conference will be attended by three external speakers, including professor Peter Orebech, a Norwegian lawyer, Yuri Eelmaa, the deputy director at Crimea's ICC Artek international children's center, the director at Crimean Tatar Millet tv, Ervin Musaev, as well as speakers from People's Diplomacy Norway, according to Weber.
Weber, who visited Crimea for the first time in 2016, said he paid regular visits to the peninsula and followed the developments there "very closely."
"Large-scale construction projects are being carried out, such as the Crimean bridge, the airport in Simferopol, the highways, and this is very important, as well as private investment. In October last year, we visited a company that invested large sums in the agricultural sector and is celebrating great successes. I also hear from smaller companies in Europe who are beginning to invest in Crimea," he noted.
Crimea, which, according to Weber, was "very neglected" under the Ukrainian government, needs large investments and offers "big opportunities" for foreign investors.
"I believe that there is still great potential in the construction of infrastructure. That means everything from roads and bridges, to power supply and other infrastructure facilities. Due to the climate, perhaps, the agricultural economy is an interesting field ... Crimea has an incredible number of possibilities, but there is still a need for investment here," he pointed out.
Yet, the president of People's Diplomacy Norway said that, despite the fifth anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia, "there is still much work to do."
Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014, after 97 percent of those participating in a regional referendum voted for the reunification. Ukraine and the majority of Western countries, including France, continue to consider Crimea as Ukrainian territory, accusing Russia of its illegitimate annexation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the issue of Crimea's territorial belonging is "historically closed" as its residents decided to rejoin Russia in accordance with democratic procedures.
