Make Today, Day 61 the day!
Posted on 03/02/2014 1:30:22 PM PST by Army Air Corps
The North Atlantic Council condemns the Russian Federation’s military escalation in Crimea and expresses its grave concern regarding the authorisation by the Russian Parliament to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine.
Military action against Ukraine by forces of the Russian Federation is a breach of international law and contravenes the principles of the NATO-Russia Council and the Partnership for Peace. Russia must respect its obligations under the United Nations Charter and the spirit and principles of the OSCE, on which peace and stability in Europe rest. We call on Russia to de-escalate tensions.
We call upon the Russian Federation to honor its international commitments, including those set out in the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and Ukraine of 1997, and the legal framework regulating the presence of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, to withdraw its forces to its bases, and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine. We urge both parties to immediately seek a peaceful resolution through bilateral dialogue, with international facilitation, as appropriate, and through the dispatch of international observers under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Ukraine is a valued partner for NATO and a founding member of the Partnership for Peace. NATO Allies will continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the right of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, without outside interference.
We emphasise the importance of an inclusive political process based on democratic values, respect for human rights, minorities and the rule of law, which fulfils the democratic aspirations of the entire Ukrainian people.
We met today, at Ukraine’s request, to consult in the NATO-Ukraine Commission. We intend to engage with Russia in the NATO-Russia Council.
Heh.
But the level of rhetoric here is quite something; today, a Czech MP and former Minister of Foreign Affairs - a man who has a lot of respect here, I might add, and is consulted by almost everyone on foreign matters - straight up said that Putin is a 21st Century Adolf Hitler.
When that kind of rhetoric is being used in an official capacity.....that’s kickin’ it up a notch. And the Czechs (and Poles) - they know all about Hitler.
Probably to stop refugees. Many of whom would be somewhat unsavory.
They decided to overthrow their own government, and did so without a plan for what to do next. Dumb move since that opened up the vacuum for Putin to move in.
I’m not too sure you understand how uprisings work.
Well, we're learning how they work by seeing the results, aren't we?
I don’t know.
I’m listening to the rhetoric here, and it’s assuming the character of an anti-Russian crusade. “We must save our Ukrainian brothers from the Russian savages!” That sort of thing.
The Russians are certainly not well loved here. Some of the pro-Russian rhetoric I see on the internet would be an invitation to a punch in the face in this part of the world.
Uh, no.
Any English sources that you can post here?
I wish there were. It’s all Czech media. Radio and TV mostly.
Crud. It would be nice to get some news from your neck of the woods with respect to this situation.
We seem to have developed an affinity for encouraging peoples to oust their legitimate governments, then leaving them twisting in the wind once they do so. This is no different.
Now we’re getting to the nut of the (your) problem: who “encouraged” these people to oust their “legitimate” government?
I agree.
The mealy mouths on our side are more reason to understand that Russia can do whatever it likes.
Even Putin doesn't mess with Lukashenko.
I don’t believe Russia has much interest in western Ukraine, at least for now. If and when shooting starts Russia’s interest most probably will change. Reminds me of the days when Hitler looked for excuses.
Eaten by a shark. ;-)
Especially since he knows the Poles won't allow him to get it without a fight...They still have emotional ties to that area.
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