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Salmond offers meeting with Ukrainians over Putin row | Salmond offers meeting with Ukrainians over Putin row |
(35 minutes later) | |
The first minister has offered to meet Ukrainians in Scotland after the row over his qualified praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin. | The first minister has offered to meet Ukrainians in Scotland after the row over his qualified praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin. |
Alex Salmond has replied to a letter from Ukrainian community leader Michael Ostapko, who urged him to apologise. | Alex Salmond has replied to a letter from Ukrainian community leader Michael Ostapko, who urged him to apologise. |
Mr Salmond condemned "the illegal annexation of the Crimea" and said some comments were taken out of context. | |
Mr Ostapko described the letter as "tardy" but agreed to meet with Mr Salmond to outline his concerns. | Mr Ostapko described the letter as "tardy" but agreed to meet with Mr Salmond to outline his concerns. |
In an interview for GQ magazine conducted seven weeks ago, the first minister said it was a "good thing" that Mr Putin had substantially restored Russian pride. | In an interview for GQ magazine conducted seven weeks ago, the first minister said it was a "good thing" that Mr Putin had substantially restored Russian pride. |
The remarks angered Ukrainians in Scotland in the light of Russia's annexation of Crimea. | The remarks angered Ukrainians in Scotland in the light of Russia's annexation of Crimea. |
In his reply to Mr Ostapko, the first minister said it was a matter of regret that some of the comments had been reported "out of context". | In his reply to Mr Ostapko, the first minister said it was a matter of regret that some of the comments had been reported "out of context". |
Mr Salmond did not offer an apology, but wrote: "As I made clear in the interview, and elsewhere, I disapprove of as range of Russian actions. | |
"Indeed, I have had no hesitation in condemning Russia's activities in the Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Crimea and its continued support for armed militia in the east of the country. | "Indeed, I have had no hesitation in condemning Russia's activities in the Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Crimea and its continued support for armed militia in the east of the country. |
"The Scottish government has also consistently raised and opposed the Russian government's stance on human rights, freedom of expression and homosexuality." | "The Scottish government has also consistently raised and opposed the Russian government's stance on human rights, freedom of expression and homosexuality." |
The first minister concluded: "The Scottish government values the substantial contribution made by members of the Ukrainian community in Scotland and I would be very happy to visit the Ukrainian Community Centre to meet with yourself and others in due course." | |
Mr Ostapko described the letter as a "somewhat tardy explanation" but has decided to take up the first minister's offer. | Mr Ostapko described the letter as a "somewhat tardy explanation" but has decided to take up the first minister's offer. |
In response to Mr Salmond's letter, Mr Ostapko said: "We asked that he make an unequivocal public apology. He has not done so. | In response to Mr Salmond's letter, Mr Ostapko said: "We asked that he make an unequivocal public apology. He has not done so. |
"Instead we received a standard, somewhat tardy explanation strewn with political party rhetoric and little on the only matter we raised from his GQ interview; the praise of Putin the architect of the dismantling of a nation, UKRAINE (not the Ukraine, an offensive description to Ukrainians)." | "Instead we received a standard, somewhat tardy explanation strewn with political party rhetoric and little on the only matter we raised from his GQ interview; the praise of Putin the architect of the dismantling of a nation, UKRAINE (not the Ukraine, an offensive description to Ukrainians)." |
Mr Ostapko questioned some of the actions of the Scottish government in response to the Ukrainian crisis and said he would raise them with the first minister when they meet. |
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