He noted that the Ukrainian government continues to take concrete steps that would allow for the de-escalation of the crisis, particularly as it prepares for elections this Spring and undertakes constitutional reform, and he asked that Russia support the immediate deployment of international monitors to help prevent acts of violence by any groups. President Obama reiterated that a diplomatic resolution cannot be achieved while Russian military forces continue their incursions into Ukrainian territory and that the large-scale Russian military exercises on Ukraine’s borders only exacerbate the tension. President Obama said that Secretary Kerry continues to be prepared to work together with Foreign Minister Lavrov and the Ukrainian government to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/16/readout-president-s-call-president-putin
16/3/14
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Reaction of West to Crimea referendum will be utterly reserved from economic point of view...
ReplyDeleteThe results of the all-Crimea referendum, in which, according to preliminary data, more than 96% of residents have declared in favour of joining the RF will give rise to a stormy reaction from the West, experts predict.
"The matter currently revolves around two things: the RF actions after the publication of official results, and international reaction,"Dmitry Abzalov, president of the Strategic cCommunications Center, told Itar-Tass.
As far as international reaction is concerned, it will be, according to the political scientist, "of course a stormy one, particularly on the part of Washington". "However, no one will be axing the energy-supply pipe, and no one will be imposing an embargo," the political scientist maintains.
Abzalov believes that "An informational splash" will be a short-lived one. "An informational war will last three days and then a strategic discussion will ensue," the political scientist said.
For her part, Oksana Gaman-Golutvina, chairperson of the Russian Association of Political Science, pointed out that opinions about a non-recognition of the outcome of the referendum had been made public prior to the plebiscite. "This kind of judgements usually happen to be prejudiced. Much more trust is aroused by the opinion of analysts, both Russian and foreign ones, of whom there are more than 150 from 23 countries, who with one voice speak about lackof any significant infractions. And this engenders trust," she emphasized.
As far as US and EU reaction is conerned, they, Gaman-Golutvina recalled, have rather definitely formulated their stance. "In this sense, everything is rather predictable," she said.
At the same time, in expert's view, one must differentiate political and economic sanctions. "It is economic sancitons that are most significant in the present-day world. The scope of economic contacts with the European Union is quite great, particularly those with Germany, and in reference to EU countries the cost of economic sanctions against Russia may do quite a considerable damage. This is why, I believe that EU members will take up a reserved attitude to the application of economic sanctions against Russia", the president of the Russian Association of Political Science said in conclusion.
http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/723856
17/3/14
Russia can turn US to radioactive ash: Kremlin-backed journalist...
ReplyDeleteMOSCOW — A Kremlin-backed journalist issued a stark warning to the United States about Moscow’s nuclear capabilities yesterday (March 16) as the White House threatened sanctions over Crimea’s referendum on union with Russia.
“Russia is the only country in the world that is realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash,” television presenter Dmitry Kiselyov said on his weekly current affairs show.
Behind him was a backdrop of a mushroom cloud following a nuclear blast.
Mr Kiselyov was named by President Vladimir Putin in December as the head of a new state news agency whose task will be to portray Russia in the best possible light.
His remarks took a propaganda war over events in Ukraine to a new level as tensions rise in the East-West standoff over Crimea, a southern Ukrainian region which is now in Russian forces’ hands and voted yesterday on union with Russia.................http://www.todayonline.com/world/europe/russia-can-turn-us-radioactive-ash-kremlin-backed-journalist
17/3/14
Ministers of 28 EU states to hold emergency meeting on referendum in Crimea...
ReplyDeleteAftermaths of Sunday’s referendum on the future of Crimea, the legitimacy of which the EU and the US refuse to recognize, and the possible sanctions against Russia will become the dominant issue at a conference of foreign ministers of the EU’s 28 member-states. The ministers are gathering in Brussels for an emergency meeting. The EU followed the US, Britain, France, Italy, and NATO in declaring its refusal to honor the results of the referendum, insisting on its illegitimacy.
"The solution to the crisis in Ukraine must be based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, in the framework of the Ukrainian Constitution as well as the strict adherence to international standards," EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a joint statement Sunday.
"Only working together through diplomatic processes, including direct discussions between the Governments of Ukraine and Russia, can we find a solution to the crisis," they said adding that the EU "… has a special responsibility for peace, stability and prosperity on the European continent and will continue pursuing these objectives using all available channels."
EU leaders issued a warning to Russia at an emergency summit March 6 that it would face "serious consequences" unless it took immediate steps towards a scaling down of tensions. Among the steps of this kind, the EU demanded the Moscow begin talks with the authorities in Kiev and return the Black Sea Fleet military to the sites of permanent deployment.........Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_17/Ministers-of-28-EU-states-to-hold-emergency-meeting-on-referendum-in-Crimea-8329/
17/3/14
FACT SHEET: Ukraine-Related Sanctions. The White House, Office of the Press Secretary....
ReplyDeletePresident Obama today issued a new Executive Order (E.O.) under the national emergency with respect to Ukraine that finds that the actions and policies of the Russian government with respect to Ukraine -– including through the deployment of Russian military forces in the Crimea region of Ukraine –- undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of its assets.
This new authority expands upon E.O. 13660, which the President signed less than two weeks ago, by authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on named officials of the Russian government, any individual or entity that operates in the Russian arms industry, and any designated individual or entity that acts on behalf of, or that provides material or other support to, any senior Russian government official. We have fashioned these sanctions to impose costs on named individuals who wield influence in the Russian government and those responsible for the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. We stand ready to use these authorities in a direct and targeted fashion as events warrant.
In response to the Russian government’s actions contributing to the crisis in Ukraine, this new E.O. lists seven Russian government officials who are being designated for sanctions. These individuals are Vladislav Surkov, Sergey Glazyev, Leonid Slutsky, Andrei Klishas, Valentina Matviyenko, Dmitry Rogozin, and Yelena Mizulina...................http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/17/fact-sheet-ukraine-related-sanctions
17/3/14