(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Canada announced today it will not recognize the controversial referendum in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula Sunday that showed overwhelming support to split off and join Russia, saying it would lead to further isolation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper denounced the referendum saying the results of such a referendum would be illegitimate and Canada will not recognize a referendum held in a region currently under illegal military occupatio
"The so-called referendum held today was conducted with Crimea under illegal military occupatio
Its results are a reflection of nothing more than Russian military control," Harper said in a statemen
"This 'referendum' is illegitimate, it has no legal effect, and we do not recognize its outcome," the Premier said, adding that Canada is working with other countries on the possibility of further sanction
"Any solution to this crisis must respect the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine as well as the constitution of Ukrain
Putin's reckless and unilateral actions will lead only to Russia's further economic and political isolation from the international community." Lawmakers in Crimea voted unanimously Thursday to split from Ukraine and join Russia instead, and scheduled a referendum for March 16 to allow voters on the disputed peninsula to weigh in on the decisio
Canada, home to more than 1 million people of Ukrainian descent, is sending two observers to join an unarmed military mission in Ukrain
Earlier Sunday, protesters in at least two Canadian cities joined the international condemnation against the ballot
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