Pro-Russia demonstrators hold large copies of United Nations documents on the right to self-determination outside the regional parliament building in Simferopol, Ukraine, Sunday, March 16, 2014.
Posted on 03/16/2014 4:14:24 PM PDT by kristinn
President Obama spoke this afternoon with President Putin of Russia. President Obama emphasized that the Crimean “referendum,” which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under duress of Russian military intervention, would never be recognized by the United States and the international community. He emphasized that Russia’s actions were in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that, in coordination with our European partners, we are prepared to impose additional costs on Russia for its actions. President Obama underscored that there remains a clear path for resolving this crisis diplomatically, in a way that addresses the interests of both Russia and the people of Ukraine. 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.
Statement by the Press Secretary on Ukraine
The United States has steadfastly supported the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine since it declared its independence in 1991, and we reject the “referendum” that took place today in the Crimean region of Ukraine. This referendum is contrary to Ukraine’s constitution, and the international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law.
No decisions should be made about the future of Ukraine without the Ukrainian government. Moreover, this vote was not necessary. The Ukrainian government has made clear its willingness to discuss increased autonomy for Crimea, and the presidential elections planned for May 25 provide a legitimate opportunity for all Ukrainians to make their voices heard on the future of their country.
In addition, Ukraine, the United States, the EU, the OSCE, the UN, and others have called for Russia to allow international monitors into the Crimean peninsula to ensure that the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine are being upheld. Russia has spurned those calls as well as outreach from the Ukrainian government and instead has escalated its military intervention into Crimea and initiated threatening military exercises on Ukraine’s eastern border.
Russia’s actions are dangerous and destabilizing. The UN Security Council recognized this in a vote yesterday that only Russia opposed. As the United States and our allies have made clear, military intervention and violation of international law will bring increasing costs for Russia – not only due to measures imposed by the United States and our allies but also as a direct result of Russia’s own destabilizing actions.
In this century, we are long past the days when the international community will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another. We call on all members of the international community to continue to condemn such actions, to take concrete steps to impose costs, and to stand together in support of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
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I’m content with Obama doing NOTHING, because the prospect of that Amerika-hating fool in charge of a nuclear showdown with Russia gives me the heebie-jeebies.
And frankly, I’m glad McCain never became President, because that bastard would have gotten us into WW III.
Can’t respond with any facts can you, commie boy?
This piece of crap violates our constitution with his EOs almost daily and has the audacity to come out with this?
We’re headed for WWIII regardless. I would rather have McCain in charge than wimp-in-chief we are currently stuck with. For all his faults, McCain is a real American and wouldn’t back down like the sissy in the White House.
BS. Our country has its problems, but we are not sending the military is not being sent in to insure the “correct” results are being obtained.
So Obama is worried about duress in the Crimea, but is perfectly happy with Obamacare and tax laws in the US.
Righty-o.
yeah I bet Putin is shaking in his boots/ sarc
England did learn from the American Revolution. When Canada came about to politely request independence, England politely said “OK”. I don’t see Scottish independence being any more contentious than that.
"Oh, go play with your (golf) balls."
I agree. I don’t expect any fireworks if Scotland decides to go it alone.
McLame is for giving the country away through amnesty and ran such a lousy campaign that he lost to the sissy. He also assured us that we had nothing to fear & that the sissy was a good man. The bigger idiot may have been elected, but it was a race between two idiots.
Pro-Russia demonstrators hold large copies of United Nations documents on the right to self-determination outside the regional parliament building in Simferopol, Ukraine, Sunday, March 16, 2014.
” The bigger idiot may have been elected, but it was a race between two idiots.”
Hit the nail on the head.
When the American people’s choice is between two idiots, there is no hope.
2011: The principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples under Article 1, paragraph 2:
During the period under review ... leading up to the Southern Sudan referendum held on 9 January 2011, the Security Council stressed the importance of respecting the right to self-determination of the people of Southern Sudan in determining their future status.
http://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/2010-2011/Part%20III/2010-2011_Part%20III.pdf#page=3
Yeah, I’m sure the fact that they are being occupied by Russian troops had nothing to do with that.
They are not “occupied” doofus, no more than American military bases “occupied” Hawaii.
Russia has naval bases in Crimea since .. wel ... Peter the Great.
Even before the mob started to burn everything in Kiev, there were 17,000 Russian troops in Crimea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevastopol#Russian_naval_base_and_ownership_dispute
How more ridiculous can you be?
Yeah, sure, the people celebrating the referendum result in Crimea seem "terrorized" by "Russian troops occupiers" ...
More like Spider...
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