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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| No Military Option? Ask the Ukrainians |
| 2008-08-14 |
| Statistic of the country of Ukraine reminds us, they are a population of 47 million. Not a small country, and full of resources, and home to some of Russia's fleet and bases. Ukraine threatened to blockade the Russian Black Sea Fleet yesterday in an act of solidarity with Georgia that risked escalating the conflict. After flying to Tbilisi to assure Georgians of his countrys support, President Yushchenko signed an order imposing tough restrictions on the Russian fleet, which is based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. Mr Yushchenkos decree instructs Russia to give 72 hours notice of any movement of ships, aircraft or personnel in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities were given the power to alter those plans. Cap't? What are we doing 72 hours from now? Don't know? Well, you better start doing some plannin' The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had already warned Russia that it will bar ships from returning to Sevastopol if they take part in military action against Georgia. Moscow responded furiously, accusing Ukraine of a "serious new antiRussian step". Like Georgia, Ukraines pro-Western leadership is seeking membership of Nato in December. The democratic Orange Revolution that swept Mr Yushchenko and Yuliya Tymoshenko, the Prime Minister, to power in 2004 has long been loathed by Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister. Maybe Putin just doesn't like colors. Like the colors of the Orange Revolution, the Rose Revolution and even tho it isn't a color, the Tulip Revolution brings nothing but images of color. The Ukrainian Security Council issued a statement yesterday declaring that the presence of foreign warships in its waters "poses a potential threat to Ukraine's national security, particularly if parts of Russias Black Sea Fleet are used against third countries". Quoting Michael Ledeen quoting the English essayist Samuel Johnson who once remarked that "the sight of the gallows wonderfully concentrates the mind." Russia and Ukraine are already at loggerheads over the future of the Crimean base, which Russia must vacate in 2017 under a 20-year lease agreement signed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Most of Crimea's population consider themselves to be Russians and are strongly pro-Moscow. Tensions have mounted over calls by politicians in Moscow not to surrender control of the territory, regardless of Ukraines wishes. Mr Yushchenko insists that the Black Sea Fleet must leave on time and that there is no prospect of extending the lease. Ukraine's ambition for Nato membership has raised tensions still further. Russia is opposed to the Western military alliance replacing it in Crimea and Mr Putin has threatened to target nuclear missiles at Ukraine if it joins Nato. Unlike tiny Georgia, Ukraine is a country of 47 million people and any confrontation with Russia could quickly escalate into a broader European conflict. Vital Russian gas pipelines cross Ukraine to supply the European Union. Wonder if it matters to Ukraine, that Georgia shares a border with Iran? |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #3 At some point the folks over there are gonna need to migrate. Russia has a problem with birthrates and could use the ethnic russians sitting isolated in other nations. Those other nations meanwhile would be best off if they could convince the ethnic Russians to go home. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-08-14 10:45 |
| #2 Wonder if it matters to Ukraine, that Georgia shares a border with Iran? 'ffraid that is not the case. Only if Iran invades Azerbaijan or Armenia that would be correct. |
| Posted by: Spike Uniter 2008-08-14 03:44 |
| #1 See FREEREPUBLIC on the RUSSO-GEORGIAN NAVAL CLASH and damage to the Russ Warship MOSKVA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-08-14 02:59 |