US/NATO/EU and the desperate subversion of Ukraine

[John Dolva]

RT:

"Notorious Ukrainian right-wing militant leader Aleksandr Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bilyi, has been shot dead during a police raid against his gang, confirmed Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior.

Muzychko was killed in Rovno, western Ukraine, where he coordinated actions of local groups belonging to the nationalist Right Sector movement."

[John Dolva]

Breaking RT:

"Ukrainian nationalist group Right Sector has announced it holds the acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov accountable for the death of notorious radical militant Aleksandr Muzychko and will avenge it, Ukrainian media reports."

[John Dolva]

Prensa Latina:

USA and EU Confirm Total Complicity Trying to Isolate Russia Escrito por Ivan Noel Orta Martín miércoles, 26 de marzo de 2014

Brussels, Mar 26 (Prensa Latina) The United States and the European Union (EU) confirmed their total complicity, trying to isolate Russia, due to the Crimean issue, as well as to support the Ukrainian Government that took power in violent and unconstitutional circumstances.

• Russia Deplores Ukrainian Measures Against Aeroflot, TV Broadcasts

After a bilateral summit in this capital, representatives of both sides ratified their aggressive stance against Moscow, unleashed by Crimea's decision to join the Russian Federation, after radical groups destabilized Ukraine and favored the assumption of power by an illegal ultra-right-wing Executive.

In a press conference, US President Barack Obama said the EU and Washington are together in their determination to isolate Russia and they are working with great coordination for that objective, as well as to help the new Ukrainian Government stabilize the economy.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the allies of both sides of the Atlantic maintain "a firm and coordinated stance, unmistakably."

After the joint dialogues, the sides announced that faced with the sanctions against Moscow, they would begin the proceedings for a bilateral US-EU treaty that allows the latter to export natural gas to the bloc, with the purpose of reducing dependence from Russian energy.

Obama said that thanks to the agreement, it would be easier to take US gas to Europe and reduce the remarkable dependence of this continent from the Russian energy.

In his less-than-24-hour stay in Belgium, the US president visited earlier Flanders Field cemetery, where 368 US soldiers fallen in World War I are buried.

As part of the visit, a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is planned, also focused on the Ukrainian issue, according to reports.

sgl/ef/iom/pgh/lmg Modificado el ( miércoles, 26 de marzo de 2014 )

[John Dolva]

Prensa Latina:

Disappointed with Internal Mercenaries, Ukraine to Hire Foreigners

Kiev, Mar 26 (Prensa Latina) The rulers imposed in Ukraine after the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovich plan to contract a foreign private paramilitary company to repress the protests taking place in the southeast of the country, according to a source from the Ukrainian Security Service.

The new recruits will be mercenaries from the Barbados-based company Greystone Limited, which specializes in providing repressive services, the Ukrainian officer, who asked to remain anonymous due to obvious reasons, told Itar-Tass. The informant noted that the decision to hire foreign fortune soldiers was made because the new Ukrainian authorities think that national security corps cannot suppress the spirit of protest and neutralize the pro-Russia leaders and activists.

The source underlined that one of the main promoters of that decision is the interim president and provisional speaker of Parliament, Alexander Turchinov, who thinks that those mercenaries will act as the political police and will guarantee the State's security.

The initiative to bring foreign mercenaries was submitted by the oligarchs Igor Kolomoiski and Sergei Taruta, who were appointed governors of Dnepropetrovsk and the region of Donetsk, respectively, the source added.

He noted that at a meeting in Turchinov's office, the plan to crush the movement of protests in eastern Ukraine was debated, and Kolomoiski said that there was no need to reinvent the wheel if there are real people whom they can pay to do so.

sgl/jg/pgh/jpm

Modificado el ( miércoles, 26 de marzo de 2014 )

[John Dolva]

RT:

18:54 GMT:

Law enforcement authorities won’t allow extremists to prosper in Ukraine, said Arsen Avakov, Interior Minister in the country’s coup-imposed government.

The police are currently in a standoff with armed militant groups, who claim to be representing the ultranationalist Right Sector movement, in the Zakarpattia and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine, the minister told journalists in Brussels.

[John Dolva]

RT:

Russia’s actions in Crimea ‘completely understandable’ – German ex-chancellor

Published time: March 26, 2014 17:57

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Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (AFP Photo / Pool / Michael Sohn)

Ukraine turmoil

Moscow’s actions in the Crimea are comprehensible, former German chancellor, Helmut Schmidt said, criticizing the Western reaction to the peninsula’s reunification with Russia.

President Vladimir Putin’s approach to the Crimean issue is “completely understandable,” Schmidt wrote in Die Zeit newspaper where he’s employed as an editor.

While the sanctions, which target individual Russian politicians and businessmen, employed by the EU and the US against Russia are “a stupid idea,” he added.

The current restrictive measures are of symbolic nature, but if more serious economic sanctions are introduced “they’ll hit the West as hard as Russia,” Schmidt warned.

He also believes that the refusal of the Western countries to cooperate with Russia in the framework of the G8 is a wrong decision.

“It would’ve been ideal to get together now. It would certainly do a lot more to promotion of peace than the threats of sanctions,” the ex-chancellor explained.

But the G8 itself isn’t that as important as the G20, in which Russia remains a member, he added.

According to Schmidt, the situation in Ukraine is “dangerous because the West is terribly upset” and it’s “agitation” leads to “corresponding agitation among Russian public opinion and political circles.

The ex-chancellor refused to speculate of the possibility of Russian troop deployment to eastern parts of Ukraine, but added that the West “shouldn’t fuel Russia’s appetites.”

Schmidt executed the duties of chancellor of West Germany in 1974-82, also working as the country’s finance, economy and defense minister.

Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were officially accepted into the Russian Federation on March 21, with president Putin signing a relevant decree.

The peninsula’s withdrawal from Ukraine was triggered by an armed ultra-nationalist coup in Kiev, which saw country’s president Viktor Yanukovich ousted.

[John Dolva]

As ukraine appears to be taking the threat from the far right seriously, not just because russia encourages them to do so but also because of the increasing demonstrations in eu (european union, russia is part of europe) countries against fascism, it seems to be an acknowledgement by many sectors that the people of crimea have indeed a legitimate right to self determination. It may also lead to a mediating atmosphere between russia and the self installed government in ukraine.

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having read early reports of the general strike in paraguay ( Adherence to the General Strike in Paraguay Estimated at 80 Percent ) I'm reminded of the call by rioters in kiev calling for a general strike. That led nowhere. General strikes are a sign of class unity. When in paraguay it is about agrarian reform and anti-privatisation it is a clear sign that the workers of paraguay are conscious and politicised. When as in kiev it does not happen even though all workers can be expected to be anti corruption ukrainian workers are not swayed by the rioting. This is very different from may 68 in france. The french government have literally given socialism a bad name. The far right has been descibed as a main workers party. I suspect this is because of the vaccum created by the vacuous french government. A bit like the actions of a 'wrecker'. Naturally credible alternative will emerge to take its rightful place in the working class but till then the wrecking done by the french government (which is what wrecking as a tactic is used for) will hamper this process. Nevertheless this can be mitigated by the fact that this process can be under correct direction become a process of trial by fire and therefore workers will be able to see for themselves in short order who is in fact on their side. It is always important to see who groupings like the us support, overtly and covertly. The us will change their approach based on ''there is an opportunity in all crisis". They'll push for chaos and then opportunistically call for dialogue. Always where they are on this spectrum can be seen by their actions. The current sabre rattling has a purpose. Generally it is not in the interest of the working class. It is in the interest of the corporate fascist regimes in these countries to have it presented through its media as such. Slowly the naked emperor appears. Feed your head.

[John Dolva]

RT:

Ukraine parliament passes austerity bill required by IMF

Published time: March 28, 2014 02:18

The Ukrainian parliament has adopted an anti-crisis bill proposed by the IMF to secure an international financial aid package. Ordinary Ukrainians will have to tighten their belts to help the coup-installed government keep the collapsing economy afloat.

It took two readings of the bill for 246 MPs out of 321 registered to approve the austerity measures outlined in the legislation dubbed “On prevention of financial catastrophe and creation of prerequisites for economic growth.”

Ahead of the vote, Ukrainian self-imposed Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk told the Parliament that it had “no other choice but to accept the IMF offer,” as country fiscal gap in 2014 is projected to reach $26 billion. Ukraine's Finance Ministry says it needs $35 billion over the next two years to avoid default.

“The country is on the edge of economic and financial bankruptcy,” Yatsenyuk said. “This package of laws is very unpopular, very difficult, very tough. Reforms that should have been done in the past 20 years.”

It is ordinary Ukrainians who will suffer the most under the new austerity measures as the floating national currency is likely to push up inflation, while spike in domestic gas prices will impact every household. Under the IMF conditions Kiev has to cut the budget deficit, increase retail energy tariffs, and shift to a flexible exchange rate.

The state-owned energy company Naftogaz already said that it will increase household gas prices by 50 percent starting May 1, while utility companies will see a 40 percent rise as of July. According to estimates, this year Ukraine’s economy will contract by 3 percent while inflation will rise to 14 percent. The government is not planning to raise minimum wages in response to inflation.

The law adopted on Thursday, in particular, introduces a permanent application of the basic rate of corporate income tax at 18 percent and VAT at 20 percent, according to RBC-Ukraine. The government will also cancel the VAT refund for grain exporters.

The bill also introduces a 15 percent tax rate on pension payments if they exceed 10 thousand hryvnas (about $900). This tax, however, won’t really hurt an ordinary Ukrainian pensioner since an average pension in Ukraine is $160 – which may be further cut by 50% for those still working.

A progressive personal income taxation scale has also been installed to charge individuals 15, 17, 20 and 25 percent depending on their earnings. Those persons who make over 1 million hryvnas will be charged 25 percent income tax.

Car enthusiasts will also suffer as taxes on new cars and motorcycles with engine capacity exceeding 0.5 liters will also be doubled. Those who shop online and use overseas retailers will now see lowering of the limit on tax-free imports from 300 to 150 euros.

Excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco will also go up. In 2014 spirits price will see a 39 percent increase, while tobacco products will see a rise of 31.5 percent. Beer lovers will suffer the most with a 42.5 percent rise.

The legislation also reduces the total number of personnel in law enforcement agencies. Almost 80,000 people will be dismissed in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security Service, the Office of the State Guard, and the prosecutor's office.

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to throw Ukraine’s sinking economy a lifeline provided the country adopts severe austerity measures. According to a preliminary agreement announced by the IMF, it would provide Kiev between $14 and $18 billion in loans over the next two years. Pending final approval by the IMF’s board, Ukraine could get their hands on the first installment as early as April.

“The mission has reached a staff-level agreement with the authorities of Ukraine on an economic reform program that can be supported by a two-year Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF,” the Fund said in a press release.

A successful deal with the IMF is expected to unleash further $10 billion in loans from other international partners, including the EU and the US. The World Bank is also considering the possibility of providing Ukraine with $1 to $3 billion. Canada, Japan and Poland are also contemplating financial aid.

“The financial support from the broader international community that the program will unlock amounts to US$27 billion over the next two years. Of this, assistance from the IMF will range between US$14-18 billion, with the precise amount to be determined once reforms are in place,” the IMF said.

In Washington, both the Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to provide a $1 billion loan guarantee aid to Ukraine. In addition the Senate bill includes $50 million for democracy building and $100 million for enhanced security cooperation.

“This significant support will help stabilise the economy and meet the needs of Ukrainian people over the long term because it provides the prospect for true growth,” US President Barack Obama said in Rome.

Despite the promised injection of cash into Ukraine, Nikolay Gueorguiev, IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine said that “Nonetheless, the economic outlook remains difficult, with the economy falling back into recession,” he said cited by Kyivpost. “With no current market access, large foreign debt repayments loom in 2014-2015.”

_________

Far right attempts to storm ukrainian parliament. MP's leave through underground tunnels.

_____________

Swedish nazi wanted for grave assault may be back in kiev. International arrest warrant issued.

___________

Meanwhile Crimea may get a special status as 'economic powerhouse'. No details yet.

[John Dolva]

Following the storming of parliament, and threats to continue, kiev seeks to distance themselves from the right sector (svoboda remains silent so far) and are looking to ban them. - Further talks to be held.

This is, while not unexpected, an interesting step. It can be seen as a delegitimisation of the violence that led to the coup and in turn kiev is forced to re-evaluate that event and all that flows from it. It looks more and more clear that, albeit grudgingly, there will be recognition that the people of crimea took a rational and important step that turns out to have a desirable effect on kiev. The crimean people are to be thanked.

In the UN nations have clearly shown that the people in kiev seeking recognition are nowhere as supported as the west alliances mouthpieces wish.

All in all, kiev has signed a deal with the imf that they will shortly find is not good, internal problems by extremists will not automatically stop, in fact they will spill into the eu and crimeas rejection of fascism will become a generally accepted thing that in the final analysis aids stability.

When the 'west' pulls its head out of its collective hip pocket and start facing reality a further step towards stability will be taken.

[John Dolva]

RT:

"Russian president held a phone conversation with Barack Obama to discuss possible scenarios of stabilizing the chaotic social and political situation in Ukraine. Putin once again highlighted the ongoing extremism rampant in Kiev as well as other regions.

The leaders spoke for about an hour on Friday, discussing the situation in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin drew Obama’s attention to the continuing acts of intimidation against civilians as well as government and law enforcement agencies conducted by extremists in Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.

In this context, the Russian leader proposed to President Obama to consider possible steps that the international community can take to help stabilize the situation."

[John Dolva]

RT:

"The lawless actions of Ukraine's nationalists have finally caught attention of the intl community, with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton denouncing Right Sector for its ‘pressure’ and ‘undemocratic’ demand of the interior minister’s resignation.

A day after neo-Nazi activists who helped bring the acting government in Kiev to power turned against it, Ashton has issued a statement condemning the “pressure by activists of the Right Sector who have surrounded the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.”

This “intimidation” the EU foreign policy chief believes, stands against all “democratic principles and rule of law,” as Ashton called on the ultra-right group “to refrain from the use or threat of violence.”

Ashton stressed the need to “hand over any unauthorised arms to the authorities immediately.” "

Which brings the whole thing back to the riots. Where the h..l was this concern then?

Again a position that legitimises the concerns of the people of crimea who have chosen to reunite with russia. Putin said : "crimea will never be fascist". Anyone who says so and acts on it has my support. The very very very belated statement by ashton may go a long way towards healing the stark divergence of the elements of the west that sides with the us presidencys pathetic position.

[John Dolva]

Lavrov, Kerry discussed Ukraine constitutional reform, fair elections

Published time: March 30, 2014 22:37

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before their meeting at the Russian Ambassador's residence in Paris March 30, 2014 (Reuters / Jacquelyn Martin)

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Ukraine turmoil

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​Although expressing different points of view on the roots of Ukraine crisis, Russia and the US have agreed to seek common grounds to deescalate tensions and implement necessary reforms, having in mind that Ukrainians themselves should decide their future

“We have conducted intensive negotiations in the first place, on the crisis in Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after 4 hours of negotiations with his US counterpart. “Expressed dissenting views on its causes, but agreed to seek common ground to resolve the situation in Ukraine.”

The ministers shared with each other their suggestions on how to deescalate the situation but both agreed that the Ukrainian people should take the leading role in deciding their own future.

“We have agreed to work with the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian people in the broadest sense, to achieve the implementation of such priority measures as minority rights, language rights, disarmament of provocateurs, implementing constitutional reforms and having free and fair elections under international supervision,” Lavrov told journalists.

The Russian foreign minister stressed that neither Russia nor the United States can impose any plans on Ukraine, drafted unilaterally without the Ukrainian side.

“We discussed the constitutional reform, in favor of which we stand together with the Americans… And which, as I understand it, the Ukrainian authorities have committed to.” Lavrov said.

“We are convinced that federalization is a very important component of this reform, the most important is to ensure the unity of Ukraine taking into account the interests of all regions of the country, without exceptions, so that the country functions as a state. We need to find a compromise, consensus among all regions,” the minister added.

US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that “differences of opinion about events” that led to Ukraine crisis did not stop the sides from looking for ways to de-escalate the security and political situation “in and around Ukraine.”

“The US and Russia have differences of opinion about events that led to this crisis but both of us recognize the importance of finding a diplomatic solution and simultaneously meeting the needs of the Ukrainian people, and that we agreed on tonight," Kerry said.

[John Dolva]

RT:

Monday, March 31

00:04 GMT:

Ukraine's Ministry of Interior, General Prosecutor's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine plan to disclose on Thursday information about the suspects in murders during the unrest in Kiev last month, said Arsen Avakov, the country's Minister of Interior.

On his Facebook page Avakov says authorities will “provide an interim report on the investigation into the massacre. We will show and tell only that which will not harm the process of further investigation, including information about the detained suspects from law enforcement agencies and from the organized criminal gangs.”

Sunday, March 30

22:23 GMT:

Ukraine will be able to receive the IMF and other international organizations loans only after Kiev provides the lenders with a stabilization plan for the country’s economy, Arseny Yatsenyuk the self-installed prime minister said, UNN reports.

"It is about 13 billion US dollars, which we can get after honestly and openly declaring to Ukraine and the world, what happens to public public finances, in which economic 'abyss' we are currently in and how we're going to get out of it ," Yatsenyuk said.

The politician says that drastic measures have to be introduced to strengthen the economy, which Yatsenyuk says many Ukrainians will not approve, citing the levy increases on alcohol and tobacco as well as the tax hike on big business.

[John Dolva]

Moscow will make Crimea a special economic zone with tax breaks to attract investors, Russian Prime Minister has announced at a government session in Crimea’s capital Simferopol.

“We made a decision to make Crimea a special economic zone,” Medvedev said. “Today the state duma began reviewing this legislation.”

Companies that make investments with the authorities of Crimea and Sevastopol could be given tax breaks, Prime Minister said

“We have to ensure swindlers don’t take advantage of this state in transition,” Medvedev said. “It is our purpose to make the peninsula as attractive as possible for investment.”

The Prime Minister described the development of Crimea as a national priority and compared the importance of the region to that of the Far East.

Earlier, Medvedev drew parallels between Crimea and another Russian region that’s geographically separated from Russia. He said Crimea could acquire the status of a special economic zone similar to the one enjoyed by Russia's western Kaliningrad region.

"As well as in the case of Kaliningrad, a specific law is required which allows tax privileges to all large investors, ready to put money into the region," Medvedev said last week.

Speaking in Simferopol on Monday, the Prime Minister said Crimea was ready to be integrated into the Russian monetary system.

“For fully fledged integration of Crimea into the ruble zone, Russian currency has been delivered in sufficient volumes to the peninsular,” he announced.

Medvedev said the ruble has already started circulating in the region.

“Now, our main task is to expand the Russian banking network to Crimea,” he added.

The Crimean parliament approved switching to the Russian currency earlier in March. The MPs decided to also keep the Ukrainian hryvnia as a second official currency until 2016, to make the transition to the ruble less painful.

Medvedev earlier this month ordered the cabinet to have a comprehensive program on the development of Crimea and Sevastopol ready by July.

Vice-premier Dmitry Kozak, who supervises the peninsular, said the plan could be ready as early as April 15. Before being entrusted with overseeing Crimea, Kozak was in charge of preparations for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

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In ukraine the self imposed governement seems to be getting ready to release partial findings into investigation of the shootings in kiev. Thursday perhaps.

[Steven Gaal]

Obama’s War On History

By Daniel McAdams | Ron Paul Institute | March 29, 2014

President Obama’s speech in Brussels this week was a shocking mélange of ignorance and arrogance masquerading as foreign policy.

Attempting to justify placing the US on war footing with Russia over the recent referendum in Crimea, the president stated:

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Kosovo only left Serbia after a referendum was organized not outside the boundaries of international law, but in careful cooperation with the United Nations and with Kosovo’s neighbors. None of that even came close to happening in Crimea.

Of course anyone who followed the Kosovo fiasco knows that never happened. There was no such thing. Made up. The Kosovo parliament declared independence unilaterally backed up by US/NATO military power to ensure the change of borders.

The US press? Silent on this monumental display of ignorance by the US commander in chief.

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Speaking of changing borders, Obama said:

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in the 21st century, the borders of Europe cannot be redrawn with force, that international law matters, that people and nations can make their own decisions about their future.

But that is just what the United States did 15 years ago this week via the 78 day bombing of Serbia to change the borders and extract Kosovo as an independent (though profoundly dysfunctional) state. The US bombing of Serbia was of course outside international law, as was US invasion and occupation of Iraq, attack and invasion of Afghanistan, invasion of Libya, bombing of Pakistan, Yemen, etc.

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The president celebrated…

the belief that through conscience and free will, each of us has the right to live as we choose, the belief that power is derived from the consent of the governed and that laws and institutions should be established to protect that understanding.

But in the modern world he champions — as opposed to his bad old system of using force to establish legitimacy — that consent of the governed is determined at the ballot box, rather than in burned-out buildings occupied by gangs of molotov cocktail throwing “activists.”

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Indeed, as David Hendrickson recently wrote in the National Interest :

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Americans have previously acknowledged a right of revolution in a circumstance where there has been no previous instance of an election and no possibility of one. But in a regime that has a constitution and that has prescribed rules for the transfer of power? Revolution in those circumstances has been generally seen as deeply illegitimate, and for the simple reason that once you depart from that rule you are in no man’s land.

So where Obama may see…

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…the young people of Ukraine, who were determined to take back their future from a government rotted by corruption…

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the modern world he touts — free of the oppression where “order and progress can only come when individuals surrender their rights to an all-powerful sovereign” — can only be brought about by his own terms through the rule of law and respect of the sovereignty of all the people through a free and fair vote. Otherwise, logic is clear, we are precisely back in those bad old days where might makes right.

How can two contradictory concepts both be true at the same time?

The president claims to…

######

believe in democracy, with elections that are free and fair, and independent judiciaries and opposition parties, civil society and uncensored information so that individuals can make their own choices.

######

All the while he champions a regime that came to power in Ukraine in the opposite manner from that which he recognizes as legitimate. Recognizing this fact depends not on whether one agrees with the political persuasion of the ancien or nouveau régime in Kiev.

The president displays another astonishing disconnect with historical reality when he claims that “even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system.”

It is not apocryphal that the United States precisely violated international law in its attack on Iraq, as it ignored the United Nations Security Council and instead made its own ad hoc “coalition of the willing” which through sheer will of the US was supposedly granted some manner of legitimacy. As if from some magic fairy dust.

Or could it have been through the very notion condemned in Obama’s speech “that bigger nations can bully smaller ones to get their way – that recycled maxim that might makes right.”

What is perhaps most troubling is the president (and his advisors) have demostrated that the policies that may well determine whether we all will perish in a World War III are being made by people without even a passing familiarity with recent history. Those who would rather Tweet “selfies” like self-obsessed adolescents rather than open a history book.

Or, sadly perhaps, it is cynicism in the extreme: perhaps they do know better but count on the ignorance of the rest of us. Is that a safe bet?

Edited March 31, 2014 by Steven Gaal