Posted on 03/23/2014 10:07:03 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
Watchdogs from several European countries have noticed no indication of a massive build-up of Russian military that would threaten the security of neighboring states, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Sunday.
According to Mr. Antonov, as many as seven inspection groups paid visits to Russian border territories over the past month. “Our facilities and deployment areas along the Russian-Ukrainian border were twice checked by the Ukrainian military,” he noted.
Monitors from the US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Finland scrutinized Russia’s military camps stationed on its borders with neighboring nations. “It must have been a simple 'coincidence' that the majority of these [missions] focused on the regions near the Ukrainian border,” Mr. Antonov noted.
“We were as transparent as it comes and let our partners inspect all facilities they wanted. We have nothing to hide,” the defense chief pointed out.
The Russian military went as far as allowing EU and NATO watchdogs to interrogate Russian command, takes photos of bases where personnel and military hardware were stationed and accompany them during their routine maneuvers.
“The conclusion that our partners came to after the final briefing, which is a compulsory inspection procedure, was unanimous: Russian armed forces are not involved in any manner of unannounced military maneuvers that would endanger the security of neighboring states,” Antonov underscored.
The Russian deputy defense minister urged Ukrainian and European watchdogs to update their corresponding governments on the actual situation on the Russian borders, saying a clearer picture would certainly de-escalate the situation in the region.
Lithuanian inspectors came back from OSCE mission in Ukraine, presented results of their activity to Defence MinisterOn March 19 inspectors of the Arms Control Section of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces presented the results of the activity as part of the unarmed OSCE military observer mission in Ukraine to Minister of National Juozas Olekas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
“Our key aim was to dispel the concerns about an illicit military activity in the territory in Ukraine, however, we were prohibited from achieving it as all our group’s attempts to enter the territory of Crimea were in vain,” head of the Arms Control Section of the Joint Staff Lieutenant Colonel Raimondas Ivanauskas said.
According to him, when the OSCE observers failed to implement the main objective, they proceeded to the eastern part of Ukraine: met with representatives of local authority and visited local military units.
Tensions in Ukraine persist, therefore the OSCE mission has been extended till March 20 by Ukraine’s request. One inspector of the Arms Control Section of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is currently in Ukraine.
50 representatives from 28 states were carrying out the observation in mission in Ukraine from March 5 to 16.
The activities of military observers in Crimea are covered by the provisions of Chapter III of the OSCE Vienna Document which allow for voluntary hosting of visits in the territories were activities threatening to the security of international community are likely to have been undertaken.
The Lithuania Tribune. March 20, 2014.
Baghdad Bob got a new gig.
Hans Blix
The Ukraine has been effectively “Finlandized”, that is, merely the presence of the Russian military in enough to extend the hegemony, and the resulting influence over every aspect of the non-Russian Ukrainians’ lives.
It is presumed the ethnic Russians very much welcomed the presence of Vladimir Putin’s military and civil service people.
Yeah why would you believe the folks in Cimea or Ukraine? Typical inspectors report.... Nothing to see move along
My first thought, too, but iirc, Hans was eaten by sharks in NORK. /South Park
LOL
They’re there. I know for certain.
Moscow Matt, perhaps?
Rossiya Segodnya (official name: Federal State Unitary Enterprise International Information Agency Rossiya Segodnya; from Russian: Россия Сегодня, Russia Today) is the official Russian government owned international news agency founded by presidential decree on 9 December 2013. Rossiya Segodnya incorporates the former RIA Novosti news service and the Voice of Russia international radio service (formerly Radio Moscow).
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