NICOSIA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus's parliament asks for an end to EU sanctions on Russia over its Ukraine policies, in a resolution passed by a majority of deputies, state radio reported on Friday.
The non-binding resolution was approved by 33 opposition deputies of the 56-member chamber in a vote from which the ruling party deputies abstained.
The resolution called on the Cypriot government to take initiatives for lifting sanctions which it said hurt Russian citizens and for ending Russian sanctions on Cypriot agricultural exports to Russia.
The resolution said sanctions on Russia are proving to be counterproductive and do not contribute towards ending the crisis in Ukraine.
It also said that the Ukrainian people is paying the price of the ongoing crisis.
In April, France's lower house of parliament also adopted a resolution calling for the EU to lift its economic sanctions against Russia.
