Ukraine

[Artashes]

Re: Ukraine

EU offers Ukraine $15 billion, but help hinges on IMF deal
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A240V020140305

I viewed the site about one minute ago.
I saw the above post, about one minute ago.
Sorry, can't help this ...

---- hinges upon //(( IMF)))// --- DEAL ---
Does anyone out there hope their lives " hinges upon " an IMF --- DEAL ----- !!!???
--------- salvation ????? Hinges upon ????? --- A --- IMF deal???
Now that's a comforting thought.

[Haykakan]

Re: Ukraine

But this Ukrainian government came to power after the previous government was overthrown - making it less than completely legal

It is not clear if this government has the support of Ukrainians from all regions

It has received complete support from the US and EU but its decisions may not reflect the will of a significant number of Ukrainians

In fact quite a few mainland Ukrainians may well agree with the decision to hold a referendum in Crimea

I bet quite a few mainland Ukrainians would like to take part in a similar referendum themselves. The prospects of a fascist state in dept to IMF does not sound appealing at all.

[Haykakan]

Re: Ukraine

Global Post
March 21 2014


Ukraine recalls envoy to Armenia over Crimea spat


Ukraine's interim government recalled its ambassador to Yerevan for
consultations on Friday after Armenia's president backed Russia's
annexation of Crimea, the foreign ministry said.

As well as recalling ambassador Ivan Kukhta, acting foreign minister
Andriy Deshchytsya summoned the Armenian envoy in Kiev to express his
"deep concern" at Yerevan's position, his office said in a statement.

The moves come after Armenian President Serge Sarkissian told Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call that Moscow's annexation
Crimea was a "model for the realisation of self-determination".

In the early 1990s, Armenians took up arms to establish an independent
mini-state in the Azerbaijani enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, in a move
never recognised by the international community. (AFP)

via/dv/cc

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140321/ukraine-recalls-envoy-armenia-over-crimea-spat

[Haykakan]

Re: Ukraine

UKRAINIAN NATIONALISTS VOW TO TAKE REVENGE FOR MURDER OF A 'BROTHER'

YEREVAN, March 25. / ARKA /. Ukrainian nationalist group Right Sector
has announced it holds the acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov
(ethnic Armenian) accountable for the death of notorious radical
militant Aleksandr Muzychko and will avenge it, according to Ukrainian
and Russian media reports.

"We will take revenge on Arsen Avakov for the death of our brother,"
said Rovno coordinator of the Right Sector Roman Koval, as cited by
charivne.info news portal.

"The shooting of Muzychko is an assassination ordered by the minister.

Muzychko never received any notices concerning criminal offences and
was never summoned anywhere."

Earlier, Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bilyi, was proclaimed dead
after a police raid against his gang in Rovno, western Ukraine.

During the raid, Muzychko opened fire wounding an officer. He continued
shooting even despite being injured in the leg, the Interior Ministry
said.

"When the police attempted to detain him, they found out he was
wounded. The medics who arrived at the scene proclaimed Muzychko dead,"
First Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir Yevdokimov said.

The three bodyguards, who were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles
and Makarov pistols, were detained by police.

The Right Sector representatives say that the Interior Ministry's
version of Muzychko's death is an "outright lie." They claim the
notorious militant had his hands tied so he could not possibly shoot
back at the police.

The nationalist group has not specified how exactly they are going
to avenge their leader's death.

Muzychko was put on an international wanted list on suspicion of
torturing and murdering at least 20 Russian servicemen in Chechnya in
the early 2000s. He was arrested in absentia by a court in southern
Russia earlier this month.

Ukrainian prosecutors have launched a criminal case against Muzychko
who assaulted staff at a state prosecutor's office in Rovno last
month. Ukraine's interior minister Arsen Avakov earlier said Muzychko
would be punished according to the law.

Right Sector, along with Muzychko, is a major ally of the neo-Nazi
Svoboda party led by Oleh Tyahnybok, a member of the new Ukrainian
government. -0-

- See more at:

http://arka.am/en/news/politics/ukrainian_nationalists_vow_to_take_revenge_for_murder_of_a_brother/#sthash.410PypeK.dpuf

[Mher]

Re: Ukraine

Armenia one of 11 countries to vote against UN Crimea vote

UN Gen Assembly adopts resolution backing Ukraine's territorial integrity

March 27, 2014 15:59

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted for a resolution submitted by Ukraine denouncing the referendum in Crimea that made the Black Sea peninsula an integral part of the Russian Federation.

One hundred UN member countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 11 voted against and 58 abstained.

As well as Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe voted against the resolution.

The resolution "affirms commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

It also calls on UN member states “to desist and refrain from actions aimed at the partial or total disruption” of Ukraine’s national unity.

Unlike the decisions of the Security Council, the resolutions of the UN General Assembly are not legally binding, but simply express global opinion.

Russia has rejected the UN resolution as “confrontational,” Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the United Nations, said before the vote, adding that the document “undermines the referendum” and the right to self-determination of the Crimean people.

Churkin said that there were “some right things” about the document, however, as it speaks out against unilateral actions and provocative rhetoric. But he said that no UN resolution was needed to achieve those goals, as all sides simply need to start acting in the interests of the Ukrainian people.

The initiative for Crimea to reunite with Russia came from the Crimean people themselves, not from Moscow, Churkin said.

The revocation of the official status of the Russian language and threats to send militants to Crimea by the coup-imposed government in Kiev provided “the critical mass” to push the peninsula to the referendum, he said.

Envoys for the EU and the US declared their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

“The European Union supports the resolution on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which follows the UN Charter and calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” said Thomas Mayr-Harting, head of the EU delegation to the UN.

In his speech, Mayr-Harting condemned what he called the violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity by Russia and its “annexation” of Crimea, saying that the referendum was “illegal” and “a clear violation of the Ukrainian constitution.”

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said that international “borders aren’t mere suggestions.”

“Ukraine is justified in asking us not to recognize the new status quo [in Crimea], which Russia has enforced by the military,” she said.

Power urged Moscow to move from a policy of “unilateral confrontation” to diplomacy.

The 193-nation assembly also voted on the Crimea referendum, which the Ukraine resolution says contains “no validity, (and) cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or of the City of Sevastopol."

The resolution "calls upon all states to desist and refrain from actions aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including any attempts to modify Ukraine's borders through the threat or use of force or other unlawful means."

And the resolution invites "all parties to pursue immediately the peaceful resolution" of the crisis "through direct political dialogue."

In an effort to attract votes in the General Assembly, where there appears to be little enthusiasm for allowing the situation to create an irreparable rift with Moscow, the draft made no direct mention of Russia.

"The draft resolution is not aimed at condemning any member state," said Ukraine's UN envoy Yuriy Sergeyev in a letter accompanying the draft.

On March 19, Russia voted down the Ukrainian resolution denouncing the Crimea referendum, while China said it would abstain from the vote.

Russia also vetoed a Security Council resolution that said the Crimean referendum to join Russia would have "no validity" in an emergency session held the day before Crimea headed to the polls.

On March 16, an overwhelming majority of Crimean residents voted in favor of joining the Russian Federation, following violent protests in the capital Kiev, which forced out democratically elected president Viktor Yanukovich.




lol not the best company of countries to be amongst

[Haykakan]

Re: Ukraine

TURKEY EXPRESSES SECURITY CONCERNS AFTER DEATH OF CRIMEAN TATAR

Today's Zaman (Turkey)
March 20, 2014 Thursday

Turkey has expressed its concern for the security of Turkic Tatars
on the Crimean Peninsula after a Tatar was killed in the Black Sea's
volatile Autonomous Republic of Crimea, saying that their exposure
to pressure and threats is unacceptable.

Releasing a written statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry
said Turkey had learned with great sorrow of the death of Crimean
Tatar Resat Ametov and called for the perpetrators to be arrested
and brought to justice.

Ametov went missing on March 3 and was found dead on March 16,
news agencies reported on Tuesday. His body reportedly showed signs
of torture.

The Foreign Ministry statement said the killing had caused indignation
among the public and people of Tatar origin, who are ethnically and
linguistically related to Turks. "The Crimean Tatar Turks were able to
return to their homeland after suffering a lot in the past, and voice
their views and demands in peaceful terms. We find it unacceptable
that our kin are being pressured and exposed to threats in spite of
their responsible stance, as well as the fact that they have been
deprived of security during the 'referendum' process and since then,"
the statement said.

The statement referred to the referendum held last weekend, in which
the region voted to break away from Ukraine and join Russia. According
to the final results of the referendum, around 97 percent of voters
had opted to secede from Ukraine. Crimea's Tatars, who make up 12
percent of the population, generally support Ukraine's pro-European
interim government, while the ethnic Russian majority wants secession.

The statement also commented on some allegations that there had been
provocations targeting Tatars. "We felt concern about reports released
that have cited 'official sources' on our kin being driven out of
the regions where they live," the statement stressed, reiterating
that the current situation in Crimea should not be the cause of
such provocations.

The Foreign Ministry statement also conveyed Turkey's condolences to
the families of the victim and all Crimean Tatars.

These concerns about the security of Crimea's ethnic Tatars have also
been voiced by Ivan Simonovic, assistant UN secretary-general for human
rights. The UN official talked of the disappearance of Ametov after
he participated in a protest in early March. He said that Ametov's
body bore the marks of "mistreatment" when it was found on March 16.

Crimea is important to Turkey due to the presence of the Crimean
Tatars on the peninsula. Although Ankara has refrained from using
harsh words against any side in the Crimea unrest, it has declared
that Turkey does not recognize the Crimean referendum, calling the
poll "illegitimate." Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has reiterated
that the well-being of the Crimean Tatars on the peninsula is one of
Turkey's strategic priorities.

Davutoglu also talked of the situation of Crimean Tatars in the
crisis-hit peninsula during a televised interview on Kanal 24 on
Thursday. "Any ethnic clashes breaking out there [Crimea] would be
an unacceptable situation for Turkey," he said, adding that Turkey
has been working in the international arena to ensure Crimean Tatars'
rights and security.

Davutoglu said diplomacy can still be a tool for the Crimea crisis. He
said there are no hot clashes at the moment and diplomacy can still
solve the problem in Crimea. "However, if any clashes break out
in eastern Ukraine and Russian troops consider it a fait accompli,
there will be serious consequences," he said.

He also warned of a possible domino effect of the Crimean crisis,
saying, "If the Crimea crisis triggers the Karabakh problem, it may
strain nerves in the Caucasus region." He said Armenia's fortification
is "dangerous" and stated that these kinds of acts inflame crisis in
the region.

Crimea was a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire from 1478 to 1774.

Although it was then absorbed into the Russian Empire, the majority of
its population maintained its Muslim traditions and Tatar roots. The
Turkish government and Crimean Tatars are concerned about the
possibility of violence against the peninsula's ethnic Tatar minority.

[Haykakan]

Re: Ukraine

YEREVAN QUARRELS WITH WASHINGTON: THE PRO-RUSSIAN STANCE OF ARMENIA IRRITATED THE US

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russia
March 21 2014

by Yury Roks

In a telephone conversation Armenian and Russian Presidents Vladimir
Putin and Serzh Sargsyan discussed the situation around the Crimea.

They stated that the incident "is an example of the right of peoples
to self-determination through free will". According to the Press
Service of the Armenian leader, the conversation was initiated by
Sargsyan. Yerevan's position on the Crimea caused a negative reaction
from US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern.

On Thursday at the "NATO Partnership for the South Caucasus"
international conference head of the US Mission to Armenia John
Heffern regretted statements of official Yerevan on the Crimean
issue He said that NATO and the US tried to find options out of the
Ukrainian crisis. He noted: "Peaceful solutions were offered during
the conversations between Obama and Putin, Kerry and Lavrov...

However, Russia did not heed the proposals". The Ambassador noted that
he was disappointed with pro-Russian position taken by the Armenian
leadership in the Crimean issue that was expressed in a statement
that the right of people to self-determination was implemented in
the Crimea.

Up to this point, Armenia's position was not so articulate. It is
clear that currently that position has become definite and clear. In
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Armenian side
insists on the priority of the principle of the right of people to
self-determination, while Azerbaijan insists on the principle of the
inviolability of another principle - of "territorial integrity".

With regard to the Crimea Baku took an extremely cautious stance. And
it can be understood, because recognizing the legitimacy of the
Crimean referendum would be a sign to recognize valid the claims of
Nagorno-Karabakh to independence, while the announcement the will of
the Crimeans irregular could lead to a deterioration of relations with
Russia, which plays a significant role in the Karabakh settlement. But
it becomes difficult to keep silent - the "Musavat" opposition party
demanded from the authorities to support Ukraine, and decide on the
Crimean issue in general.

However, speaking on Thursday on the occasion of Nowruz, President
Ilham Aliyev was very cautious in walking reefs. Without touching
upon the Crimean issue, he focused solely on restoring his country's
borders: "I am absolutely confident that the growing power of
Azerbaijan, our potential and well-balanced foreign policy will allow
us to restore our territorial integrity".

Ilgar Velizade, leader of the South Caucasus Political Analysts Club
(Baku), urged not to link the Crimean events to the Karabakh conflict.

He noted: "They will not have direct impact on political developments
around Nagorno-Karabakh, because they are determined by other factors.

The Karabakh settlement has its own history and its own geopolitical
situation. It was not affected by the events in Georgia in 2008, when
the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were recognized; and the
events in the Crimea will have no impact on it, either". According to
him, the Karabakh process is in stagnation marked by prolonged lack of
results, although the fact that the situation does not deteriorate, can
already be considered positive in a certain sense. Ilgar Velizade said:
"In late March talks between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
are scheduled, which confirms the lack of communication between the
Crimean and Karabakh processes. The meeting's result depends on what
issues will discuss".

In contrast to him, Russian politician and expert on the South
Caucasus Andrey Areshev finds a lot in common between the Crimea and
the Karabakh. Areshev said: "The parallels between today's Crimea
and Nagorno-Karabakh of the late USSR are unmistakable. It is no
coincidence that telephone conversation between the two presidents
caused a quick and, apparently, very nervous reaction of the American
ambassador in Yerevan. Unfortunately, the US actions are becoming
increasingly less predictable; they will take every effort to ensure
that the actions of Russia in the Crimea, primarily aiming to keep
regional and internal political stability, were left without support,
even from Russia's closest allies". According to him, in the long
term, this line is doomed to failure, and the Crimea with its rich
history can become a factor in the strengthening of Russian- Armenian
relations.

Implying that the NKR adopted resolutions in support of the people
of Crimea, and a concert and rally to express solidarity with the
peninsula were held in Stepanakert, Areshev added: "Relations of the
Nagorno Karabakh with the new subjects of the Russian Federation - the
Crimea and Sevastopol - can positively influence Russian society, which
generally has an insufficient or distorted view of the Karabakh issue".

Nagorno Karabakh Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghoulyan declared: "We
could not but welcome the decisive step of the Crimean people. We
also reminded of our past ways, as for many people currently stepping
on the path of self-determination, the example of Karabakh is one of
the best ones".

Head of the Information and Analytical Center under the President
of Nagorno-Karabakh, political scientist David Babayan said that the
decision of the Crimea became another precedent of the people's will
from the legal point. He specified: "The year 2014 promises to be rich
in such events. Referendums are expected in Scotland, and Catalonia.

Last year we witnessed the choice of the residents of the Falkland
Islands, before that South Sudan gained independence. This is an
irreversible process".

[Groong: Translated from Russian]

[londontsi]

Re: Ukraine

Ukraine: Ominous World War II parallels?
As world leaders call each other 'Nazis' and 'fascists', clarity is needed on the application of international law.

An interesting article by Vartan Oskanian

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/03/ukraine-ominous-world-war-ii-pa-201431372034569427.html

[Haykakan]

Re: Ukraine

Restating the obvious is interesting nowdays?

Ukraine: Ominous World War II parallels?
As world leaders call each other 'Nazis' and 'fascists', clarity is needed on the application of international law.

An interesting article by Vartan Oskanian

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opi...034569427.html

[lampron]

Re: Ukraine

On Thursday at the "NATO Partnership for the South Caucasus"
international conference head of the US Mission to Armenia John
Heffern regretted statements of official Yerevan on the Crimean
issue

His regrets are of no interest when his organization vigorously supports Kosovo's claim to
independence while strongly opposing the same for Karabakh

NATO has no business in the south Caucasus. Pity Georgians are not being informed by their media of NATOs hypocrisy