MUNICH. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Crimea's reunification with Russia was accomplished in keeping with the UN Charter article dealing with self-determination, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"What happened in Crimea is envisioned by the UN Charter: self-determination. The UN Charter has several principles, and a nation's right to self-determination is a key one," Lavrov said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
"Territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected. The General Assembly has adopted a declaration explaining correspondence between the basic principles of international law. It reaffirmed that sovereignty and territorial integrity are inviolable, and countries seeking to be respected must respect the rights of nations living in these countries and must not negate the right to self-determination by using brutal force," he said.