Thursday, March 06, 2014

EU LEADS DIPLOMACY ON UKRAINE-CRIMEA WANTS A REFERENDEM

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.

HERE ARE THE COUNTRIES TO WATCH THAT WILL BE OPPOSING THIS RUSSIA INVASION OF THE UKRAINE BY THE BIBLE.

EZEKIEL 38:10-13
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say,(RUSSIA,ARAB,MUSLIMS) I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,(ISRAEL)
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13 Sheba, and Dedan,(SAUDIA ARABIA) and the merchants of Tarshish,(ENGLAND-EUROPEAN UNION) with all the young lions thereof,(USA,CANADA,AUSTRALIA,NEW ZEALAND, ENGLISH SPEAKING shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (SEE THAT LITTLE WORD AT THE END OF SPOIL-THIS UKRAINE SITUATION IS BECAUSE OF RUSSIAS OIL CONTROL IN THE UKRAINE JUST AS IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF OIL THAT RUSSIAN AND HOARDS MARCH TO ISRAEL)(SO WE SEE OIL WILL BE A MAJOR EVENT IN THIS UKRAINE AND FUTURE ISRAEL ATTACKS)

COUNTRIES ON RUSSIAS SIDE WILL BE-CHINA-EAST COUNTRIES AND THESE

EZEKIEL 38:5-8
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY) of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.(AFRICAN MUSLIMS,SUDAN,TUNESIA ETC)
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
NOTE-We can see why the Bible says Germany will side with Russia.Because most of the trading by Germany is with Russia.So Germany will be sucked in to support Russia in this Ukraine situation because of all the influence Russia has over Germany.

THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 07:00AM THU MAR 06,14

THE DIPLOMACY BATTLE WILL BE HOT AND HEAVY IN BRUSSELS-AT THE 28 MEMBERS MEETING.AT NATO HEADQUARTERS AND AT THE OSCE HEADQUARTERS.ITS THE EUROPEAN UNION THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO LOSE IN THIS SANCTIONS-DIPLOMACY BATTLE.WILL THE EUROPEAN UNION WANT TO SANCTION RUSSIA HARD AND TAKE THE CHANCE OF RUSSIA INSTANTLY CUTTING ALL THE GAS LINES TO THE UKRAINE WHICH WILL KILL THE 20% OR MORE OF THE GAS SUPPLY TO THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES.OR WILL THE EU SEND  TROOPS IN THE UKRAINE-BUT NOT UNDER THE NATO OR UNITED NATIONS BANNER.ONLY UNDER THE BANNER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARMY.BECAUSE THATS EXACTLY WHAT PUTIN IS DOING.PUTING GOT HIS ARMIES IN THE CRIMEA AREA UNDER THE GUISE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS JUST PEACE KEEPING TO HELP WATCH OVER THE RUSSIAN SUPPORTED CRIMEA.THAT IN FACT WANTS A REFERENDUM TO SEE IF A VOTE WILL PASS TO LET RUSSIA BE A HAND IN GLOVE WITH CRIMEA.

WELL IF ONE SINGLE NATION RUSSIA CAN PUT TROOPS IN CRIMEA UNDER THE GUISE OF PEACE KEEPING AND NOT AN INVASION.THEN WHY CAN THE EUROPEAN UNION NOT DO THE SAME BY PUTTING EUROPEAN UNION TROOPS IN KIEV TO PROTECT IT.SINCE KIEV IS A EUROPEAN UNION AND AMERICAN SUPPORTED CAPITAL.AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ARMY-NOT NATO OR UNITED NATIONS TROOPS.BUT A EUROPEAN UNION SINGLE ARMY CAN WATCH AND OCCUPY KIEV JUST LIKE RUSSIA IS DOING THE SAME IN CRIMEA.

THEN THE DIPLOMACY COULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND RUSSIA. AND LEAVE OBAMA AND AMERICA RIGHT OUT OF THE PICTURE.SINCE EVERY TIME THAT EMPTY SUIT OBAMA SPEAKS-RUSSIA LAUGHS AND SCOFFS AND SAYS TO ITSELF.THAT EMPTY SUIT OBAMA CAN JUST KEEP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO PROMOTE HIS DEATH PANELS AND SKY ROCKETING HEALTHCARE COSTS AS A RESULT OF OBAMACARE.BECAUSE NO EMPTY SUITE WILL TRY TO THREATEN ME-PUTIN WITH SANCTIONS THAT KILL MY OIL AND GAS MONEY AND CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.SO WE SHALL SEE WHAT TODAY BRINGS.BUT FROM HERE ON IN -I PREDICT THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL START TAKING ITS ROLE AS THE WORLD DIPLOMATIC SOLVER-NOT AMERICA AND OBAMA.  


THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 10:00AM THU MAR 06,14

OBAMA HAS JUST SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WITHOUT GOING THREW CONGRESS THAT WILL SANCTION RUSSIA FOR BEING IN THE UKRAINE.AND ALSO THE UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER MADE A STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL IN EUROPE.THAT RUSSIA MUST GET THEIR TROOPS OUT OF CRIMEA.CRIMEA IS NOT AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT IT HAS NO POWER SAY THE PM.THE CRIMEAN GOVERNMENT SAID IT WILL JOIN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.AND WE WILL HAVE A REFERENDUM TO FINALIZE THE RUSSIAN AGREEMENT THAT SAYS CRIMEA WILL BE PART OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.THE PM ALSO THANKED AMERICA FOR THE BILLION DOLLAR FUNNEL TO THEM AND THE 15 BILLION DALLAR FUNNEL FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION.BUT WE STILL NEED AT LEAST ANOTHER FUNNEL OF 19 BILLION DALLARS FROM THE IMF TO US TO SURVIVE OUR DEBTS.AS WE URGENTLY NEED TO STABALIZE THE SITUATION.(MY STANS COMMENTS HERE(WE THE UKRAINUANS ARE WILLING TO SIGN AWAY OUR COUNTRY TO THE IMF FOR THE 19 BILLION DOLLARS.AND THE IMF CAN HAVE UKRAINE AS COLLATERAL IF WE GO BANKRUPT-THANK YOU IMF-UKRAINE LOVES YOU).NOW BACK TO THE PM COMMENTS-WE UKRAINIANS WANT TO JOIN THE EU AND WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DO IT.
http://www.european-council.europa.eu/council-meetings?meeting=2ee114fa-d018-4273-a8ca-fa690f31f297&tab=News&lang=en

RUSSIA IS ALSO ACCUSED OF TRAPPING UKRAINIAN WARSHIPS.A REPORT SAYS THE EU WANTS TO START NEGOTIATING FOR UKRAINE EU MEMBERSHIP AFTER THE MAY 25,14 ELECTIONS.THE UKRAINE PM SAYS WE AND THE EU ARE NOW READY TO SIGN AN ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT.

THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 11:30AM THU MAR 06,14

I LIKE WHAT THE PM OF UKRAINE LEADER SAID ABOUT RUSSIA NUKES AND A REVAMP OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM.FIRST HE SAYS UKRAINE WILL USE MILITARY FORCE AGAINST RUSSIA IF RUSSIA COMES ANY WERE NEAR KIEV AS WITH THE UKRAINE CONSTITUTION.WE ARE READY TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY.A REPORTER ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT RUSSIA AND UKRAINES MILITARY.THE PM SAID. THERES NO COMPARISON BETWEEN RUSSIAS AND OUR MILITARY.RUSSIA HAS NUKES.WE DON'T.THE PM SAYS WE DON'T HAVE THE BOMBS... BUT WE SURE HAVE THE SPIRIT.THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF UKRAINIAN REVOLUTION AND FREEDOM.I WONDER WHAT THATS SUPPOSE TO MEAN.WE HAVE THE SPIRIT.I GUESS IT MEANS UKRAINIANS WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR UKRAINE EVEN IF THE RUSSIANS USE NUKES ON THEM.THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY.371 MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT VOTED ME IN-I AM THE LEGIT PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE HE SAYS.SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSE AND THE CITIZENS.HE SAYS RUSSIA IS DANGEROUS-RUSSIA IS NOT A FRIENDLY COUNTRY.ANY RUSSIAN TANKS OR TROOPS ON OUR UKRAINIAN GROUND ARE UNACCEPTABLE.SO WHATS UP WITH THE GLOBAL SECURITY.ARE WE GOING CRAZY.THAT IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH NO LEGAL GROUNDS-WITH NO REASON.ONE COUNTRY WITH A NUKE CAN INVADE ANOTHER.SO PROBABLY WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE GLOBAL SECURITY SYSTEM.OVER HALL THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.THATS WHY WE ASK RUSSIA- WERE ARE THE LIMITS AND BOUNDERIES. THE PM SAID HE PHONED MEDVEDEV AND ASKED HIM- WHY ARE TWO FRIENDLY COUNTRIES AT WAR.WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMICAL AGREEMENTS.NOT ABOUT STOPPING OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR FROM INVADING OUR COUNTRY WITH MILITARY FORCE.SO RUSSIA JUST STEP BACK AND STOP HE SAYS TO MEDVEDEV ON THE PHONE.YOU RUSSIANS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO JEOPORDIZE UKRAINE SAYS THE PM.AND WE WILL STICK TO OUR VALUES EVEN IF RUSSIA USES MILITARY FORCE ON US.HE SAYS WE MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR WE ARE READY TO TALK WITH RUSSIA ABOUT THE SITUATION. WE CONSIDER RUSSIAS TROOPS IN CRIMEA AS AN EXTENSIVE INVASION.BUT WE ARE HAVING PATIENCE WITH RUSSIA BEFORE WE ACT WITH OUR MILITARY.HE SAID THIS AFTER TALKING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS COUNCIL. 


THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 01:00PM THU MAR 06,14
THE CRIMEA PARLIAMANT PASSED THE VOTE TO JOIN RUSSIA TODAY.AND THE VOTE 78-8  FOR THE REFERENDUM WILL BE MARCH 16,14 IN 10 DAYS.CANADA SAYS THERES NO WAY THAT WAS A LEGAL PASS.AND CANADA WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT REFERENDUM ON MARCH 16,14 AS LEGITIMATE.CANADA ADAMENTLY REJECTS THE CRIMEA PARLIAMANT VOTE.AND THE CRIMEA HAS ITS OWN ARMY.SO WILL THESE TROOPS BE RUSSIAN TROOPS OR WILL THEY FLEE TO KIEV AND BECOME THE KIEV PARLIAMANT TROOPS AFTER MARCH 16 REFERENDUM IS PASSED.AND JOINS RUSSIA.THIS TELLS ME THAT THE UKRAINE WILL BE SEPARATED IN 2 PARTS.THE KIEV PART.AND THE CRIMEA PART.RUSSIA WILL HAVE TROOPS SMOOTHERED THE CRIMEA PART AND IN THE REST OF UKRAINE-THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL SMOOTHER WITH ITS OWN TROOPS-NOT NATO OR UNITED NATIONS TROOPS.AT THE EUROPEAN UNION MEETINGS IN BRUSSELS TODAY THE EUROPEAN UNION WARNED OF CONSEQUENCES TO RUSSIA IF THEY DON'T WITHDRAW THEIR TROOPS FROM THE CRIMEA AND GET BACK TO RUSSIA WITH THEM WERE THEY BETTER STAY AND BELONG. 


THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 03:30PM THU MAR 06,14

IT SEEMS RUSSIA SANK ONE ITS OWN SHIPS IN THE CRIMEA TO STOP 7 OTHER KIEV SHIPS FROM MOVING FROM THE AREA.JOHN BAIRD OF CANADA IS ABOUT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE UKRAINE SITUATION.HE SAYS THE CRIMEA GOVERNMENT IS NOT LEGITIMIT.YOU CAN NOT HAVE A REFERENDUM IN 10 DAYS AND EXPECT IT TO BE REAL.HE SAYS THERE IS ANTISEMITES AND THUGS IN UKRAINE IN SOME AREAS.CANADA WILL SUPPORT THE KIEV PART OF UKRAINE BUT NOT THE FRAUDS FROM THE RUSSIA SUCKUP CRIMEA FAKE GOVERNMENT.CANADA WILL STICK UP FOR UKRAINE SOVEREIGNTY.CANADA SAYS THERE MIGHT JUST BE A G-7 IF THE RUSSIA INVADER OF SOVERIGN UKRAINE DOES NOT GET THEIR RED ARM BANNED TERRITORY STEALING MINI DICTATOR ARMY OUT OF CRIMEA AND ALL OF UKRAINE.PARAPHRASED IN MY WORDS.

 06 Mar. 2014-NATO RESPONSE 3:20PM
Secretary General assures Ukrainian Prime Minister that NATO stands by Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk on Thursday (6 March 2014) that “in these difficult moments, NATO stands by Ukraine. NATO stands by the right of every nation to decide its own future. NATO stands by Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and by the fundamental principles of international law”.The Secretary General and the Prime Minister discussed the grave developments in Ukraine and how NATO and Ukraine can strengthen their partnership. The Secretary General said the crisis in Ukraine “presents serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area as a whole.” He added that the crisis is the gravest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.Mr. Fogh Rasmussen stressed that the Alliance intends to step up its partnership cooperation through the NATO-Ukraine Commission to support democratic reforms.  This will include bolstering ties with Ukraine’s political and military leadership, strengthening efforts to build the capacity of the Ukrainian military and more joint training and exercises. NATO will also do more to include Ukraine in its multinational projects to develop capabilities. The NATO Secretary General commended the people of Ukraine for their determination and courage and for the restraint shown by the Ukraine armed forces, and reiterated that a political solution is the only way out of the crisis.“Above all, we call on Russia to honour its international commitments and halt the military escalation in Crimea. We call on Russia to withdraw its forces to their bases, and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine. There should be no attempt to draw new lines on the map of Europe in the 21st century”, Mr. Fogh Rasmussen concluded. 

Extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State or Government on Ukraine
06/03/2014-Brussels-Media accreditation

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy convened an extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State or Government on Thursday 6 March 2014 to discuss the situation in Ukraine.The summit is expected to finish with a press conference around 15h. The EU Heads of State or Government will discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and how to facilitate the necessary de-escalation of the situation.

March 06, 2014, 07:54 am
Obama orders sanctions over Ukraine, citing threat to US-By Justin Sink


The White House on Thursday moved to impose economic sanctions and visa restrictions on those responsible for or supporting the Russian incursion into Ukraine.White House press secretary Jay Carney said the State Department was moving to put in place visa restrictions on “a number of officials and individuals” responsible for or complicit in actions that threatened the sovereignty of the former Soviet republic.President Obama has also signed an executive order authorizing sanctions against those who have threatened “the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine.”Under the executive order, the U.S. would freeze assets, block property under U.S. jurisdiction, and prevent American companies from doing business with any individual or entity identified by the administration.Carney called the order a “flexible tool” that would allow the U.S. to target those directly responsible for the incursion, but warned further sanctions were possible if the situation deteriorated.“We call on Russia to take the opportunity before it to resolve this crisis through direct and immediate dialogue with the Government of Ukraine, the immediate pull-back of Russia’s military forces to their bases, the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and support for the urgent deployment of international observers and human rights monitors who can assure that the rights of all Ukrainians are protected, including ethnic Russians, and who can support the Ukrainian government’s efforts to hold a free and fair election on May 25,” Carney said.The White House announcement follows a number of steps taken in the immediate aftermath of the Russian move into Crimea designed to ratchet up pressure on Moscow to withdraw. The Obama administration suspended bilateral discussions with Russia on trade and investment, put on hold joint military exercises, and suspended planning for a planned G8 meeting in Sochi.The move also builds on travel restrictions announced last month targeting members of the former Ukrainian government responsible for "undermining democratic institutions" within the country.In his executive order, Obama described the crisis in Ukraine as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the national security of the United States.While the president’s move responds to domestic political pressure to stand up to Putin, its unclear what actual impact the targeted sanctions will have. Trade between the U.S. and Russia is relatively limited, and European leaders have been reluctant to follow suit. Russia is Europe’s third-largest trading partner, and countries like Germany and France are heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil."Whether (sanctions) will come into force depends also on how the diplomatic process progresses," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Obama’s move comes as lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working on sanctions legislation. Senate Foreign Relations panel Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said his committee was developing language, and planned to meet with administration witnesses on Thursday.“We are also consulting with the administration on possible sanctions actions against individual Russians and Ukrainians that range from visa bans and asset freezes, to the suspension of military cooperation and sales, as well as economic sanctions,” he said.House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) has also said that he’s asked his committee chairmen to work on legislation to “put pressure on Russia.” The House Foreign Relations Committee is slated to mark up a resolution urging sanctions on Thursday.The resolution “calls on the Administration to work with our European allies and other countries to impose visa, financial, trade, and other sanctions on senior Russian Federation officials, majority state-owned banks and commercial organizations, and other state agencies, as appropriate.” --This report was updated at 8:23 a.m.

05 Mar. 2014 by the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Press Conference held following the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at NATO HQ, Brussels
Good evening.

The situation in Ukraine presents serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area.And Russia continues to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its own international commitments.So NATO decided today to take a number of immediate steps.We have suspended the planning for our first NATO-Russia joint mission. The maritime escort for the U.S. ship Cape Ray, which will neutralise Syria’s chemical weapons. Let me stress, this will not affect the destruction of chemical weapons, but Russia will not be involved in the escort of the US vessel.We have also decided that no staff-level civilian or military meetings with Russia will take place for now.We have put the entire range of NATO-Russia cooperation under review. NATO Foreign Ministers will take decisions on this in early April.These steps send a clear message: Russia’s actions have consequences.At the same time, we do want to keep the door open for political dialogue. So we are ready to maintain meetings of ambassadors in the NATO-Russia Council, as we have done today.I have just chaired a frank and important meeting of the NATO-Russia Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine.The NATO-Russia Council is a forum for discussions on all issues. Where we agree, and where we disagree.As Chairman of the NATO-Russia Council, it is my duty to uphold the principles on which our relationship is founded.Those fundamental principles are now at stake. Our joint pledge to observe in good faith our obligations under international law. And our commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, or any other state.So I asked the Russian Ambassador to convey NATO’s firm message to Moscow.At the same time we have decided to intensify our partnership with Ukraine, and strengthen our cooperation to support democratic reforms.We will step up our engagement with the Ukrainian civilian and military leadership.We will strengthen our efforts to build the capacity of the Ukrainian military, including with more joint training and exercises.And we will do more to include Ukraine in our multinational projects to develop capabilities.This will complement the international efforts to support the people of Ukraine as they shape their future. And tomorrow, I will meet the Prime Minister of Ukraine to make clear NATO’s support.

And with that, I am ready to take your questions.

OANA LUNGESCU (NATO Spokesperson): Al Jazeera.-Q: This is Erin, from CNN. With the entire range of the cooperation now under review, what are the next steps? Do you believe diplomacy alone can resolve this crisis? ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: I really do hope that diplomacy will pave the way for a long-term, sustainable political solution to this crisis in Crimea. But I also believe that steps as the one... as the steps we have taken today, as well as steps taken by other actors will facilitate diplomatic and political solutions. So I think some pressure on our Russian partners will pave the way for political and diplomatic solutions. That's what I hope.

OANA LUNGESCU: Al Jazeera.-Q: Simon McGregor-Wood with Al Jazeera. Secretary General, when you meet with the new Ukrainian prime minister tomorrow, would it be a good time to discuss the possibility of offering Ukraine NATO membership? ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN:It's for the Ukrainians to decide their future relationship with NATO. As you will recall, NATO made a decision back in 2008 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine and by the way also Georgia will become members of NATO, provided of course they so wish and provided they fulfilled the necessary criteria. This decision stands.But, in the meantime, Ukraine has decided to pursue a non-bloc... or non-alliance policy. We fully respect that. We have an excellent partnership with Ukraine within the NATO-Ukraine Commission. We're ready to continue and further develop that partnership. And it's for Ukraine to decide if they want to further develop that relationship.

OANA LUNGESCU: NPR.Q: Teri Shultz with NPR and CBS. These are relatively modest steps what you're doing today. Why did Allies decide not to go further in downgrading the relationship as was done when Russia invaded Georgia? Do you think this is going to be enough to really make Mr. Putin reconsider his moves in Crimea? Thanks.ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Actually, I think this sends a very clear message to Russia. And by balancing our steps in such a way that we, on the one hand, suspend daily practical cooperation; but on the other hand also keep a channel open for political dialogue we hope that we can contribute to finding a political and diplomatic solution.NATO is not the only actor here. You should see our steps in connection with steps taken and to be taken by other international organizations and individual nations. And I think all together this will send a very clear message to Russia that they must de-escalate tensions.

OANA LUNGESCU: ANSA.-Q: Marco Aldi (?), ANSA, do you think that economic sanctions can help to send that strong message that you want to send to Moscow; the economic sanctions that EU can take; USA can take; eventually reviewing the position of Russia in WTO? ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: As NATO Secretary General, I'm not going to interfere with EU decisions or decisions by individual nations as regards economic sanctions.OANA LUNGESCU: Thank you very much, that's all we have time for. Thank you.

EU not expected to impose tough sanctions on Russia

Today @ 09:40-MAR 6,14-EUOBSERVER
By Andrew Rettman
BRUSSELS - EU countries are not expected to impose tough sanctions on Russia when leaders meet for an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday (6 March).
  • EU diplomat: 'at least there is a freeze in the escalation' (Photo: Christiaan Triebert)
The event comes after EU foreign ministers said on Monday the Union will “consider … targeted measures,” such as visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials, unless Moscow pulls back troops from Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.Nato on Wednesday did suspend co-operation with Russia.“We have suspended the planning for our first Nato-Russia joint mission. The maritime escort for the US ship Cape Ray, which will neutralise Syria’s chemical weapons … We have also decided that no staff-level civilian or military meetings with Russia will take place for now [and] we have put the entire range of Nato-Russia co-operation under review,” Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.Ukraine has also called on the EU to take firm steps.
“I call upon the strong, resolute and consolidated response of the European Union … against the atmosphere of impunity in which our strategic partner threatens the overall system of international law,” its EU ambassador, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, wrote in a letter, seen by EUobserver, to EU states this week.For his part, US secretary of state John Kerry, told press that a meeting with his British, Ukrainian, and Russian counterparts in Paris on Wednesday was better than no talks at all, but did not lead to a breakthrough.
“This is hard, tough stuff and a very serious moment, but I’d rather be where we are today than where we were yesterday,” he said.He added that Germany, France, and the UK, remain “very serious” about the threat of punitive measures: “There’s been no movement away from the possibility.”But EU diplomats say Germany and Italy are opposed to taking strong action in order not to aggravate the situation, while France is giving credence to some positive statements by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris.“France some saw positive things in the Paris talks: Lavrov appeared to accept the idea of creating a contact group [on the crisis], even though it is not yet clear with whom or when. And while there is no de-escalation, at least there is a freeze in the escalation,” one EU contact said.“The situation is complicated. Some countries think sanctions are not the way to encourage talks. Even Poland is wary of freezing the visa-free dialogue,” the source added.Another EU diplomat noted that Sweden and Baltic states are among the most hawkish.
But Greece, a traditional Russian ally, has said openly it is opposed to taking action, which requires a consensus of all 28 EU members. “Sanctions are unfortunately always double-edged, with repercussions for those who suffer them, but also for those who impose them … We don’t want sanctions,” Greek foreign minister Evangelos Venizelos told press on Wednesday.The EU on Thursday morning imposed an asset freeze on 18 former Ukrainian regime members, however.The list includes: Ukraine’s former president Viktor Yanukovych and his two sons; the former PM and his son; the president’s former chief of staff and his brother; the former prosecutor general and his son; the former interior minister; and the former head of Ukraine’s intelligence service.The EU had previously promised to impose visa bans and asset freezes on people guilty of human rights abuses and violence.But Thursday’s list targets the so-called Yanukovych “familia” for "involvement in crimes in connection with the embezzlement of Ukrainian state funds and their illegal transfer outside Ukraine" - money thought to be worth several billions of euros, but also thought to have been sent to exotic jurisdictions by now.Meanwhile, the EU’s Ukraine diplomacy more broadly was put under a question mark on Wednesday by an interception of internal EU talks.An audio clip, purportedly obtained by former Ukrainian intelligence officers and posted on YouTube, shows Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet in a phone call to EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton giving credence to theories that someone in the EU-backed interim government ordered snipers to shoot people at the height of the crisis.
“What was disturbing is that the same snipers ... killed people on both sides. She showed me some photos. She said that as a medical doctor she could tell it was the same handwriting, the same type of bullets, and it's really disturbing that now the new coalition, they don't want to investigate what exactly happened,” Paet tells Ashton, referring to Olga Bohomolets, a senior medical officer at the protest camp.“There is now stronger and stronger understanding that behind snipers it was not Yanukovych. It was somebody from the new coalition,” he adds.The Estonian foreign ministry has confirmed the authenticity of the recording, made on 25 February.But Bohomolets told the British daily, The Telegraph, that her views only expressed a hypothesis and should not be used to assert that members of Ukraine’s new government are guilty of the killings.
"I think you can only say something like this on the basis of fact … It's not correct and it's not good to do this. It should be based on fact,” she said.

Crimea 'votes' to join Russia as EU leaders meet

Today @ 12:55-MAR 6,14-EUOBSERVER
By Andrew Rettman BRUSSELS - MPs in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea region said it should become part of Russia as EU leaders arrived for an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday (6 March).The decree by the devolved parliament said the territory and its people should “enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation.”Its first deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliev, also told Russian media that a referendum on the move will take place in 10 days’ time, on 16 March, instead of at the end of the month.He said the two questions will be: “Are you in favour of Crimea becoming a constituent territory of the Russian Federation? … [and] Are you in favour of restoring Crimea’s 1992 constitution? [on semi-autonomy inside Ukraine].”The vote took place after pro-Russian gunmen occupied the Crimean assembly last week, while the Russian military seized control of tactical assets on the peninsula.The new authorities in Kiev and the EU ambassador in Ukraine immediately said the Crimea decree is not valid.
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt, who is currently touring Ukraine, added that the move ignores an ultimatum by EU foreign ministers on Monday by Russia to calm the situation or face EU sanctions. “Crimea vote today in occupied parliament obviously escalates the crisis. EU appeal on Monday for de-escalation steps wasn't heard,” he said on Twitter.For her part, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, warned that unless the EU reacts strongly, Russian leader Vladimir Putin will target other neighbours in future.
"Russia today is trying to rewrite the borders of Europe after World War II, that is what's going on … After Ukraine, it will be Moldova, and after Moldova it will be other countries,” she told press while arriving at the snap meeting in the EU capital.Noting that Russia has also held an unannounced military drill in its Western District, simulating an assault on the EU and Nato’s Baltic states and Poland, she added: "This is not only about Ukraine, it is also about the Baltic region.”Nato has reacted to developments by increasing its “air-police” activity in the Baltic zone and by freezing co-operation with Russia.But a number of EU leaders indicated the bloc will not impose what it calls “targeted measures” - visa bans and asset freezes on Kremlin officials - at this stage.Germany’s Angela Merkel said in Brussels on Thursday: "We will … talk about sanctions of different kind and form, whether they will enter into force or not we will decide based on how far diplomatic efforts proceed.”French President Francois Hollande said the EU must first and foremost lower tensions in Ukraine instead of tackling bigger questions on Russia’s behaviour: “What are we trying to do? We don't want to escalate yet again I don't know what tension. On the contrary, we want to open the door to dialogue.”Britain’s David Cameron, whose country is a signatory to a 1994 treaty guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, said he wants the bloc to adopt lower-level sanctions for now, such as freezing EU-Russia talks on visa-free travel or on a new bilateral treaty, while keeping the harsher measures in reserve.“We’ve got to send a message to Russia that what’s happened is unacceptable and should have consequences and were further action to be taken, that would be even more unacceptable and should have even more consequences,” he said.His position was echoed by the Belgian, Dutch, Finnish, and Greek leaders.“It’s not because we consider possible sanctions that we must implement them immediately,” Belgium’s PM, Elio Di Rupo, said.The Netherland’s Mark Rutte noted: “My position is that we should do everything to give de-escalation a chance. If we come to a conclusion today or the next 24-48-72 hours that de-esclation is not an option then obviously sanctions are back on the table.”Finland’s Jyrki Katainen indicated: “In the first phase, we can use political and diplomatic sanctions, which the foreign ministers have already talked about [on Monday]. Let’s hope this is enough.”The Greek leader, Antonis Samaras, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said the bloc should play “a moderating role”.

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http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/eu-presidents/index_en.htm
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/european-commission/index_en.htm
EUROPEAN PARLIAMANT
http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/european-parliament/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/ecb/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/eu-elections-2014/index_en.htm


OTHER RUSSIA-UKRAINE NEWS I DONE
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/putin-pulls-back-from-brink-of-world.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russias-stock-market-fell-11-and-lost.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/watch-stock-markets-oil-today-from-this.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russian-troops-surround-ukraines-army.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-unanamously-approves-troops-in.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/russia-troops-copters-in-crimea-and-kiev.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/watch-for-afghanistan-to-have-next-arab.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/is-this-ukraine-situation-beggining-of.html  
 

ALLTIME