Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Adopted and opened for joining on August 23, 2021, Kyiv, Ukraine
The Participants in the International Crimea Platform,
being guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Paris Charter for a New Europe, as well as rules and principles of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, taking into consideration the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine” and subsequent resolutions on the human rights situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, and on the problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov,
recalling that the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974, entitled “Definition of aggression” states, inter alia, that no territorial acquisition or special advantage resulting from aggression is or shall be recognized as lawful,
taking into account the provision of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 75/192 which calls upon Member States to engage constructively in concerted efforts, including within international frameworks on Crimea,
emphasizing the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out,
taking into consideration the order, delivered on 19 April 2017 by the International Court of Justice on the request submitted by Ukraine for the indication of provisional measures, while the case is pending, in the case concerning the Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), which imposes on the Russian Federation the obligation to refrain from maintaining or imposing limitations on the ability of the Crimean Tatar people to conserve their representative institutions, including the Mejlis, and to ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language,
taking into consideration the decision, given on 14 January 2021 by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea) (application nos. 20958/14 and 38334/18), which concludes that Russia exercised effective control over Crimea as to the period from 27 February to 18 March 2014 and in respect of the period after 18 March 2014,
reaffirming commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters,
reiterating that the Participants in the International Crimea Platform do not recognize and continue to condemn the temporary occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea, which constitutes a direct challenge to international security with grave implications for the international legal order that protects the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of all States,
The Participants in the International Crimea Platform condemn
the continued violations and abuses and systematic undue restrictions of human rights and fundamental freedoms that residents of Crimea face, such as the right to peaceful assembly, the rights to freedoms of expression and opinion, religion or belief, association, restrictions on the ability to seek, receive and impart information, as well as interference and intimidation that journalists, human rights defenders and defence lawyers face in their work,
the ongoing militarization of Crimea that undermines security and stability in the wider Black Sea region,
impediments to navigational rights and freedoms exercised in accordance with international law, including obstructing free passage of ships through the Kerch Strait to and from the Sea of Azov, and underlining that such impediments have negative economic consequences for Ukraine’s ports in the Sea of Azov and international trade flows,
the continued change of the demographic structure in the occupied peninsula by the resettlement of Russian citizens to Crimea,
The Participants in the International Crimea Platform decided
to establish the International Crimea Platform as a consultative and coordination format with the aim of peacefully ending the Russian Federation’s temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to restore control of Ukraine over this territory in full accordance with international law,
to continue implementing the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation,
to consider further political, diplomatic and restrictive measures towards the Russian Federation, if provided for by the legal jurisdiction of each Participant and in line with respective procedures, when appropriate and should Russia’s actions so require,
to address emerging challenges and evolving hybrid threats resulting from the ongoing militarization of Crimea and to support joint efforts to strengthen resilience to those threats in the context of growing threats to security and stability in the Black Sea region,
to recommit to strongly opposing any unilateral attempts to challenge and change an international order based on the rule of law, and express determination to protect, maintain and strengthen the rules-based international order, including a legal order for seas and oceans, based on respect for the international law of the sea including as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
to urge the Russian Federation to comply with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law and other applicable international law, to urge the Russian Federation to bring an immediate end to all violations and abuses of human rights of residents of Crimea and to provide full and unimpeded access to Crimea for established regional and international monitoring mechanisms, in particular the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, as provided for in their existing mandates, which cover the entire territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, as well as for human rights non-governmental organizations,
to unite efforts aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of the civilian population living in the occupied Crimea and achieving the immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian citizens unlawfully detained or convicted for political reasons by Russia and its state agents, both in the territory of the occupied Crimea and in the territory of the Russian Federation,
to urge the Russian Federation to ensure that all persons belonging to ethnic and religious communities in the peninsula, including ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, are fully able to enjoy their human rights and given the possibility to maintain and develop their culture, education, identity and cultural heritage traditions, which are currently severely threatened by the temporary occupation,
to use appropriate mechanisms of the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, other international and regional organizations to address issues related to the temporary occupation, to consider implementation of other mechanisms, as appropriate, and to consult, exchange and coordinate their efforts within international organizations as appropriate, at international conferences, forums and other events where Crimea is discussed,
to consider supporting economic, infrastructure and environmental projects that would contribute to the further development of Ukraine’s regions adjacent to the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula,
to establish a network of constant and rapid communication between the representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (to set up Crimea focal points),
to recognize the role of national parliaments in addressing the temporary occupation of Crimea and to encourage the coordination of activities on Crimea between national parliaments as well as within inter-parliamentary assemblies,
Participants finally
welcome necessary joint diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,
underline that any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as an integral part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine is not and will not be recognized, and that Russia’s efforts to legitimize the temporary occupation and illegal seizure are unacceptable,
reiterate their commitment to maintaining pressure on Russia to end the temporary occupation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to restore Ukraine’s control over the territory,
welcome the establishment by Ukraine of the national Office of the Crimea Platform,
welcome the establishment of the International Crimea Platform Expert Network with a view to supporting its activities, and invite international and national non-governmental organizations, think-tanks and the expert community to contribute to the network’s activities,
look forward to the eventual return of the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Ukraine and restoration of their autonomous status as stipulated in the Constitution of Ukraine, and pledge their support to the residents of this territory with regard to restoring their rights and freedoms, enshrined within the Constitution of Ukraine, and improving the socio-economic situation in the peninsula,
call on the Russian Federation to engage constructively in the activities of the International Crimea Platform aimed at ending the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
Ed: It is difficult to find a definitive list of participants by name and country. The following was reported:
“On August 23, 44 countries and international organizations, including 14 heads of state, government, and the European Union, will become the founders of the Crimea Platform,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at an online briefing on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
In particular, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Slovenia, and Finland will be represented at the level of presidents. The President of the European Council will also take part in the Crimea Platform.
Romania, Georgia, Croatia, and Sweden will be represented at the level of prime ministers.
Two countries – Switzerland and the Czech Republic – will be represented by the speakers of parliaments.
Fourteen countries will attend the summit at the level of foreign ministers: Turkey, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Britain and Portugal will be represented by defense ministers, while the United States will be represented by the transportation secretary, a special envoy of President Joe Biden.
Norway will be represented by the Secretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The European Commission will be represented by Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, NATO – the Deputy Secretary General, the Council of Europe and GUAM will be represented at the level of the Secretary General.
Seven countries – New Zealand, Malta, Japan, Australia, Cyprus, Canada, and Greece – will be represented by ambassadors.
“So, a total of 44 foreign delegations and 45 participants together with Ukraine. I want to emphasize that these countries become the founders of the Crimea Platform regardless of the level of representation,” the Ukrainian minister emphasized.
He also noted that the Crimea Platform had already surpassed all previous international events hosted by Ukraine in the number of high-level delegations represented at the summit.
“Ukraine has never hosted such an international event before,” Kuleba said.
The Crimea Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to step up the efficiency of international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, increase international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupation regime, and achieve the main goal: to de-occupy Crimea and restore Ukraine’s sovereignty over the peninsula.
The Platform is to operate at several levels: heads of state and government, foreign ministers, inter-parliamentary cooperation, expert network.
The activity of the Crimea Platform will be officially launched at the inaugural summit in Kyiv on August 23, 2021.
Ed: These are the only speeches that can be found at time of writing:By Zelensky: Crimea is Ukraine’: Zelenskyy opens inaugural Crimea summit – https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/23/crimea-is-ukraine-zelenskyy-opens-inaugural-crimea-summit
by NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană at the Crimea Platform Inaugural Summit – https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_186167.htm?selectedLocale=en
by President Charles Michel, the Office of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe – https://www.coe.int/en/web/secretary-general/-/inaugural-summit-of-the-crimea-platform
Reported from Tass: Kremlin castigates Crimea Platform forum as anti-Russian event – https://tass.com/world/1329101
Moscow views the so-called Crimea Platform summit that opened in Ukraine as an unfriendly act towards Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
“We regard this event as extremely unfriendly towards our country. We absolutely do not accept such assertions relative to the Russian region, to Crimea. In this regard, the attitude is absolutely clear: we view it as an anti-Russian event,” the Kremlin spokesman affirmed.
After the Western-backed state coup that occurred in Ukraine in February 2014, the authorities in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol held a referendum, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and reunite with Russia.
On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on the reunification of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol with Russia, which was ratified by Russia’s Federal Assembly (parliament). Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky who spoke at the UN General Assembly in September 2020 revealed his plan to establish this so-called Crimea Platform. According to Kiev’s intent, the forum must become a platform “for coordinating international efforts aimed at returning Crimea to Ukraine.” As its organizers announced, delegates from about 40 countries and international organizations had agreed to come to the forum.
Commenting on the gathering initiated by Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lambasted it as “a coven where the West will continue to groom neo-Nazi and racist attitudes of the current Ukrainian authorities.”
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on August 21 that Russia will “take note” of the position of the countries that would take part in the forum and “will make corresponding conclusions.”.
Participants can be sorted out in the following groups:
1. Anarcho-primitive clero-fascists
2. Anti-civilisational
3. Openly Nazi
4. Opportunistic and morally corrupt dwarfs
If you saw the group photo, there were 2 pygmies on the 1st row; Zee & another, looking like someone’s lost grandsons.. How does a person reconcile being both a Jew & a Nazi?
Again, Turkey stabs Russia in the back, & a Kosovo Platform is ignored..
I don’t think anyone with half a brain considers Turkey a reliable partner. Their history is full of betrayals of everyone. Hyenas.
This made me 🙄🙄
Turkey _ one day playing on both sides just has to bite them on the.
Crimea Platform summit opens new page on road to deoccupation of Crimea – Cavusoglu
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3302900-crimea-platform-summit-opens-new-page-on-road-to-deoccupation-of-crimea-cavusoglu.html
The Crimea Platform summit opens a new page in the joint coordination of the international community’s efforts to find a peaceful way to deoccupy the Crimean peninsula, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
He said this at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday, August 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
“Under the present circumstances, there is no easy solution to this problem.
Unfortunately, the international system, including the UN mechanism, is not well designed to resolve it.
Still, peaceful resolution through diplomacy is the only way, and this requires effective coordination.
And this summit marks an important start to coordinate our efforts to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution.
Crimea is Ukraine,” Cavusoglu said.
He expressed hope that the Crimea Platform “will serve as an effective forum to show our commitment and solidarity.”
Cavusoglu also expressed hope for close cooperation between the Crimea Platform and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.
“The Crimea Platform is not only about territory, it’s also about people. I know that large Crimean Tatar communities live in your respective countries.
Turkey is also home to millions of citizens of Tatar origin,” he said.
Cavusoglu also said that Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains strong.
WW: “support” for the territorial integrity of Syria.? Nope.
Most of participating clowns were there more or less for:
– showing some truly weird kind of alliance to US, GB and other punks in decline
– getting a nice daily fee and other superbly obscene gifts from impoverished country
– being in a picture with other rednecks in nice suits, to be shown off to the true rednecks back home
– hoping to get some bite of the Ukraine, while there is still something left to be plundered
– getting a feeling of what to expect in case something stupid is said by other clown before you
– having a good feast, while Ukrainians are hungry…
and while knowing too well that Crimea was, is and for ever will be Russian. So yes, they are all clowns showing off the lowest depths of human intellect. I wish our clown would just stay there…
For the millionth time unless Russia puts a stop to these attacks on the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. Then no area can be assured that their motherland is safe. They should have not let this continue from the start. They should demand that Ukraine accept Crimea’s return to Russia,or they will consider that as a declaration of war.And the matter would be settled on the battlefield. Letting them constantly make attacks,statements,and getting others involved in Russia’s business was a mistake from day one.As for this latest attack.Call in the ambassadors of those countries involved and demand they either withdraw from that group,or their embassies will be downgraded,or relations broken.Open criminal cases on those involved in that group,and start making arrests.And finally 7 years late,give that ultimatum to Ukraine that I started this post with.
Sorry, but for the millionth time that would be the worse thing Russia could even dream of doing, ignore the whole scam and like every thing of that nature it will simply fade away, do you think these clowns are going to invade the Crimea? They aren’t it just noise and bull*hit to try and impresses some other countries, Why on earth would Russia wish to start a war that could last for years as it would soon develop into a guerilla war tying up both Russia’s military and wealth which should benefit only Russian citizens. The Ukraine through their own stupidity will dis-appear soon enough, so just be patient.
“For the millionth time unless Russia puts a stop to these attacks on the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation”
Sorry, but i do not see any attack. I see bunch of payed shills that organizer assembled in hope to scrub political points. Pathetic.
Russia already did everything what had to be done. In real world, not in virtual one where stunts like this have some entertaining value.
Just 10km more, and NS2 is finished.
An the result is Crimea will remain part of Russia! Why! Because they had a referendum and the majority wish that scenario!
Off topic I guess…but who is the maskedman? Is he an absolute idiot or is he very ill?
A confirmed hypochondriac. The only one who still believes the Con-19 $cam.
“Hypochondriasis: a psychiatic syndrome, the intersection between Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia”.
I am surprised to see only one delegate wearing the miraculous hijab to ward off evil spirits; because I think those delegates on The Crimea Platform must be sharing in Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia.
The Russians say: “The dogs bark, the caravan passes.”
Exactly the comment I was firing up the keyboard to make.
Barking dogs or howling hyenas, as Putin inferred in his Kipling reference.
“Barking dogs or howling hyenas, as Putin inferred in his Kipling reference.”
When pack of hyenas fail in the hunt, and prey escapes, they eat their own wounded member.
Following analogy, Ukraine could easily be the main course at next meeting.
Sounds like “We got 90 days for the Taliban to reach Kabul and meanwhile we do as always”.
The United States will be represented by transportation secretary.
Another kick in the Ukrainian gut coming all the way from Washington.
Yeah, I also noticed that. If US abandons also EU, I would say that Brussels really deserves that, they should finally taste their own medicine – or more so poison.
Something changed in the meeting of Biden and Putin.
But listen this: “… the continued change of the demographic structure in the occupied peninsula by the resettlement of Russian citizens to Crimea…”
There’s no limit to their ignorant arrogance. EUs main priority for years has been the change of the demographic structure in the occupied European nations.
Peter Butiggieg or something like that… and his husband!!! So woke!
How ridiculous and hypocritical this sounds when you recall how they enforced the creation of Kosovo.
Excellent point. The west whines about how it got its ass handed to it in Afghanistan by the evil Taliban terrorists. Move the Taliban to Syria and they would be hailed as freedom fighters against the totalitarian Assad regime. Fighting for the people’s rights. The only thing keeping these weasels from attacking Russia is that they know they don’t stand a chance. “The dogs bark, the caravan passes.” – perfect!
”reiterating that the Participants in the International Crimea Platform do not recognize and continue to condemn the temporary occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea, which constitutes a direct challenge to international security with grave implications for the international legal order that protects the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of all States,”
Verdict: Cri-me-a river.
Indeed, any silly, reactionary fool looking for a job might be interested in joining this awesome, psychobabbling ”Platform”. I suppose Russophobia-on-duty comes with quite a few sops and perks. Talent and intelligence are not exactly its focus.
”Territorial Integrity of Ukraine”
More psychobabble. There won’t be any ”Ukraine” 5 years from now. The luckier regions will have rejoined Russia; the rest will be the absolute basket cases of the You’re_a_peon Union and their main export remains their people — until no more people remain, that is.
Looking at ridiculous, almost surreal outfits such as this ”Platform”, Putin’s masterstroke just over 7 years ago stands out all the more. The West’s carnival of Russophobic fascist reaction in Kiev’s city centre seemed so promising, and now we have to contend with this basket of, well, whatever.
To Nussiminen
I think our Maria Zakharova has summed up this rather beautifully – Russia will TAKE NOTE of the countries taking part in this so-called “Crimea Forum” and will act accordingly in dealing with anyone sucked into participating in this sick sideshow. Concise and to the point. Brilliant!
@ Katerina
Yes, and excitingly subtle as well. It would be truly wonderful to see the nasty, scavenging Turks getting their due accordingly. Taking out The Magnificent Sultan might be a suitable act which, while being done with utmost discretion, would be greeted by a huge sigh of relief in quite a few places.
A deal is currently underway to sell more S-400s to the Sultan of Swing..
There are elements of the Russia-Turkey relationship which will never be known, or meant to be understood by outsiders..
I was hoping that @Katerina would know..
To Eddie
The wannabe “Sultan” is playing HIS game – using one side against the other and anything in between that can advance his grand plan of having a “Great Califate of Muslim Brotherhood”, with him at the top. Putin, on the other hand, has got this Turk’s measure long ago and prefers to deal with the “evil that he knows” and can control if necessary.
Selling S-400 to Turkey is VVP’s typically clever chess move to create strife and discourse in NATO, which is working like magic. Have to admire this man!
@Eddie
Russia is playing the long game. The more Turkey buys Russian weapons (second grade) the more they antagonize the Washington. As it happened in ’16, the sultan is extremely vulnerable to assassination attempts and only the Russian intelligence agencies can save him. That’s Putin’s leverage on the wannabe-sultan.
Besides, he’s not going to be in power for much long and Russia has made it sure that a rift being created between Turkey and NATO before the wannabe-sultan leaves.
I suppose this is their answer to Kabul… a total non event.
Longest run-on sentence ever?
I was sitting on our second floor balcony this morning at 06:00, listening to our Federal City of Sevastopol come alive after a night’s slumber. The silence is deafening, the only thing heard was the foot pads of our children as they walked around the house and played in the yard. So now the children are snoring away and here’s me deciding to take a look at Saker Blog. Sigh.
For the umpteenth time. I have read the 1954 ‘gift’ of Krushchov of the ADMINISTRATION of the Autonomous Republik of Krimea to OSSR. This ‘gift’ was against the law of SSSR and a clear violation of the rights of the residents of Krimea, all voting age Krimeans had the right to vote on such a change of administration. No such vote was done, ergo this ‘gift’ was illegal in 1954 and is illegal now. The Federal City of Sevastopol was mentioned nowhere in this ‘gift’ document, not even Krushchov would annoy Sevastopolets and live to tell the tale.
So, here we have a small herd of self important ‘diplomats’ and functionaries of various ranks and levels of authority attempting yet again to get some face time and mileage in semi protests of Russian Spring of February 2014, and I would aver that extremely few, if any, have ever been to our lovely island and city, ergo they have not a clue of life here. I count this as a blessing in that we won’t have to clean up and sanitize our lands after a visit from them.
1. If you want Krimea ‘back’ to OSSR, go for it, come on down and take it.
2. If you want Sevastopol, which never was any part of OSSR, come on down and take it. Pack your lunch and bring your friends. Lots of friends. You’ll need them.
3. I could care less about what a gaggle of diplomatic morons competing in a semi orgy of manual self pleasure promulgate. While I will not and can not write what I really want to say to those worthies, I will suggest that instead of wandering on down to our little piece of heaven and disturbing our bucolic way of life, perhaps they should instead attempt an impossible reproductive act upon themselves.
4. As to the lot of them, they can kiss my rosy red…..
Auslander
Author http://rhauslander.com/
Never The Last One, ebook edition. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGCY8KK A deep look in to Russia, her culture and her Armed Forces, in essence a look at the emergence of Russian Federation.
An Incident On Simonka, ebook version. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERKH3IU March 2014. NATO Is invited to leave Sevastopol, one way or the other.
Those worthies have no right to judge anybody after their criminal enforcement of Kosovo.
Mario J. Medjeral
I agree completely, but Kosovo et al are conveniently forgotten in SehSha’s unending lust for a base for the American Black Sea Fleet…which they will never have, even though they had already staked out where the HQ would be on North Side, said HQ at the west end of Ulitsiya Bogdanova and Little America was to be the entire Rahdio Ghorka region, locals being summarily put out. Pity that in their haste to leave, SehSha’s minions left massive troves of documents including these plans in detail.
The best plans of mice and men…
Auslander
Hi Auslander,
Forgive me for asking a question that you’ve probably been asked a thousand times already, but does your antenna pick up any serious talk of further regions of Eastern and Southern Ukraine seeking to split away from the western areas? Is the country even viable in its current state?
I am not wishing for a shattering of the Ukraine, nor for the suffering of its people. It actually fills me with sadness to witness so much chaos inflicted on what looks to be a truly beautiful land. That said, it seems to an outsider like myself to be dysfunctional at multiple levels. But the experience of the average working person with a family can be far removed from articles and news reports, however well written and composed they might be.
Certain people seem to get a kick out of redrawing maps and boundaries without considering the impact of such things have on the peoples living there. Something that you more than most of us commenting here know from personal experience.
Thanks in advance for your feedback (if time permits)
Glossopteris
I see nothing on the immediate radar, but I do see in the future pretty much everything east of the Dneper coming home to Mother. Whether Mother accepts them remains to be seen, but I have no doubts that in the not too distant future Novorossiya will rejoin Mother.
West of the Dneper, who wants them? Poland? Bulgaria/Romania? I doubt it.
Auslander
Appreciate your feedback Auslander, thank you. It feels like a difficult question to ask without sounding like a vulture.
I watched Yugoslavia get torn apart in the 1990’s in real time. It bothers me still to think about the impact and consequences of the wars there.
Hope the late Summer days are warm and peaceful.
Glossopteris
The problem for Russia is that it de-facto recognized the post-Maidan Poroshenko government as legitimate, which Russia should never have done – & so now, Russia can not argue that as a result of the Maidan coup, Ukraine actually ceased to exist as a legal/constitutionally defined entity & has been under the occupation of a Nazi/NATO installed junta ever since – so that there is no Ukraine for Crimea to actually be a part of, Russia & Putin could still have negotiated the Minsk accords without recognizing the legitimacy of the Ukrainian/Poroshenko junta, by simply treating them as combatants & one side in a conflict – much the same way the Astana Accords were negotiated with certain terrorist participants from Syria that Russia does not recognize as a legitimate Syrian authority, but a participant in a conflict. But Russia & Putin, who normally I have nothing but praise for, made a huge mistake, vast, by treating the post-Maidan putschists as somehow legitimate. And so Russia’s statements on its rights to Crimea always look very weak, of course they are right, but what does being in the right have to do with real politik & the brutal way in which the real world of geopolitics operates?
”/…/ but what does being in the right have to do with real politik & the brutal way in which the real world of geopolitics operates?”
Sure, but keep in mind that the knife cuts both ways. The Ukronazis most certainly believe themselves to be in the right against the filthy Moskals, but what can they do against the will and the might of the latter with a broke, de-industrialized, and rapidly depopulating cesspit? Their most vocal ”supporters” have no concern for them either; they are salaried to uphold the rules-based order’; money is their only incentive. Doesn’t help much where it ’should’.
I suppose Russia had to keep some kind of relation with The Ukraine working as long as Russia needed to use the oil and gas pipelines working that run through The Ukraine.
Good point Srbalj.
But Russia’s claim to Crimea is not based on Ukraine not existing, but on USSR not existing. As Putin has said: when there is a divorce, you take back everything you brought into the marriage.
The Russians base their legal claim to Crimea on historical pre-USSR borders, not who is in power in Kiev.
“The Russians base their legal claim to Crimea on historical pre-USSR borders, not who is in power in Kiev.”
But then in that case Russia has a claim to the entire territory of the former Russian Empire – which I agree with in principal – but Russia, under Putin, does not really have a clear position on the borders issue. Detractors will say no, Putin absolutely defends international law & sovereignty – but the thing is, he doesn’t, what is the recognition of Abkhazia & South Ossetia? Don’t get me wrong, I am on Russia’s side in this argument & my critique is that Putin’s government is not defending Russia’s national interests (where this is concerned) either in a consistent or a principled way. How does Russia treat the issue of the 20 million or so ethnic Russians locked outside of Russia’s borders in the former Soviet republics that have no real legitimacy at all?
And how many billion would it cost Russia to defend “Russian interest” in other countries to defend ethnic Russians in the old Soviet republics, and just how much misery would that bring back to Russia as they would be seen as an aggressor, never underestimate Putin for he’s a few more moves down the road them most people.
Srbalj,
The areas you mention have always had legally ambiguous, disputed borders since their very existence…
There was a war back in the 1990s when Georgia declared independence, and then conflict broke out with Abkhazia and S. Ossetia..
Sevastopol also retained its special status, as a closed Russian city, even when it became part of independent Ukraine…
“….never underestimate Putin for he’s a few more moves down the road them most people.”
Oh, OK, then, I won’t underestimate Putin then, since you make such a convincing argument, how could I possibly do otherwise.
“The areas you mention have always had legally ambiguous, disputed borders since their very existence…”
Well, yes, that is exactly my point, not only legally ambiguous but as you say, conflict ridden, contrary to what many idiot supposed specialists claimed in the west, that the Soviet Union collapsed peacefully – the civil war in Tadjikistan claimed up to 200,000 deaths alone, that is where on Emir Khattab turned up straight from Afghanistan & Bin Laden’s camp, before moving onto Bosnia & then Chechnya – another conflict. Plus Uzbekistan & the Fergana Valley, Azerbaijan vs Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, Molvova & Trans-Dniestr, it goes on & on. Russia’s position on any one of these conflicts & it’s own interests has been highly questionable – I’m just repeating myself, but that was my original point, & that Putin, who I absolutely consider a genius, has not added much clarity to the situation.
@Srbalj
There’s always a right moment to make your move. Crimeans decided to join Russia at a time when the Anglozionists were in a much stronger position than today, but Russia accepted their request and took the hit with sanctions. If Russia tries to intervene now in S. Ossetia and Abkhazia, it would play into the NATO’s playbook.
As you can see, a rift has been created inside the NATO regarding Afghanistan which would increase after 31 August. The NATO and the EU’s power is diminishing little by little. There’ll be a moment when Russia can act aggressively in the future when the EU no longer would be able to act as a whole. Russia has enough time since conflict in the abovementioned regions has come to a standstill. It’s the EU and the NATO that’s losing time.
Loool…..Ukraine and the UN can go and eat sh*t.
Actually they can also eat a Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (“dagger”) nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) :-).
The west can’t walk the walk, only drawl from the other side of the fence.
Let us see which western country or alliance will dare will dare to confront the following
1. Avangard
2. Poseidon
3. Pantsir Missile System
4. 3M22 Zircon
5. S-400 and 500
6. Su-57 Fighter Jet
And the world sings, tralala, lala, lala, li, li, li, la, la, la
7. Kinzhal
8. Sarmat
9. Peresvet
10. ……..who knows
Indeed, who knows what the Russians have up their sleeve? Perhaps even a poshel na khuy “Crimea platform”, he, he, he, …
11, Bulawa
12, Iskander {this one is very effective)
“Fourteen countries will attend the summit at the level of foreign ministers: Turkey” Typical from the turks, while Russian testpilots die trying to help Turkey to stop wildfires the turks keep backstabbing, what else culd you expect from them?
Summon international law when pleases, reject and deny if not. Alternative to international law is rules based, use it when law is not on your side, still you can try to rule….
– Kosovo
– Syria
– Afghanistan
– Iraq
– All US sanctions against the whole world
– All US hybrid war techniques against the whole world
If might makes no right maybe neither hypocrites should exercise it.
The hoodlums of the West tried everything possible to get Crimea back into US arms since 2014. This is one last game, a talk fest. It is all talk. US ukraine will never get Crimea as a base. It is useless talk. The US should be content with Bondsteel in Kosovo. It is the largest US base in Europe.
It’s time the US ends the illegal occupation of the SERB provinces of Kosovo and Mitokhia and recognizes the territorial integrety of Serbia. The sham referendums of Montenegro independence and their NATO membership should be reversed too.
A few comments after having done the research on this. It is very vague – it is so vague that one gets the impression that it might not ever have happened, and if it did, the details are just not reported in the way that such a purported important happening deserves. The data around this gives the impression of ‘gathering made up by press release’.
About the participants, the numbers vary widely. I saw anything from 44 to 28 entities reported.
The photo is a file photo, that was connected to one or another press release. I am not sure that this is a photo of the actual meeting. At time of writing, there were no photos to be found.
Take a look at this photo gallery – this one specifically that is on the link. Tell me, were there 20 people there? perhaps 22?
https://www.president.gov.ua/en/photos/uchast-prezidenta-u-zahodah-z-vidznachennya-30-richchya-neza-4117
Bear in mind we have to deduct all the people in religious garb of one or another kind and I count five of those.
Take a look at the speech supposed given by the Office of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. There is no name on there, so, did it happen, or was it a press release? Only this morning do I find the name of that ‘office’ being Charles Michel. And yes, it was on a press release.
After following up today, giving time for loading up photos and comments and so on .. I stay with my original senses on this. It was a spectacular failure as a gathering and the data set around this meeting just simply weirded me out as if most of it was manufactured.
“It was a spectacular failure as a gathering.”
Not necessarily. You have to entertain the possibilty that there was a fair amount of money to be had for spouting (or just listening to) absolutely worthless tripe. I guess I myself could make a braindead contribution and get rewarded accordingly, LOL.
Crimea Platform office opens in Kyiv
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3302974-crimea-platform-office-opens-in-kyiv.html
Today, August 23, the Crimea Platform summit has started in Kyiv
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3302652-crimea-platform-summit-starts.html
Before the summit started, the delegations made joint photos. Singer Jamala performed song 1944.
Forty-five countries confirmed participation in the summit.
———————-
Hillary Clinton greets participants in Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3302719-hillary-clinton-greets-participants-in-summit-of-first-ladies-and-gentlemen.html
Hillary Clinton congratulated everyone on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
Oh, it looks real White Whale, but Lavrov just gave words to the sense that I got.
He says it is a hollow propaganda venture that has no prospects.
https://tass.com/politics/1329513
Going through the actual documents, there are so many cya sentences that I just know that everything can be questioned.
So, far, there is no confirmation of attendees, whether in person or like Clinton, via video conference. You will find this is obscured under the words ‘x countries confirmed participation. Nowhere so far is there the participants actually. At least so far. It looks like a pretend thing.
@amarynth It looks like a pretend thing.
I agree. Anecdotally, Mayor Pete (US Secretary of Transportation) is a publicity hound and there are no Tweets/ Instagram/Facebook posts from Mayor Pete on this event. The biggest news from Mayor Pete is that he and husband Chasten have become parents and that they hope to share more information very soon. IF Mayor Pete had attended a big international event he would have posted a picture of himself with important dignitaries because Mayor Pete has larger ambitions than being the former (and not highly regarded) Mayor of South Bend Indiana.
Agree it’s a kabuki.
But 44 clowns attended in person.
Click the first link …. the pic is a UN style roundtable with delegates and their little nation flags.
Oh and by the way. The IMF also concurrently announced another almost $2billion loan.
So the show must have met someone’s KPI….and the Ukie pets got thrown a bone.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3303013-ukraine-gets-sdr-19-billion-from-imf-rozhkova.html
It’s a cold wet day here. So time to waste.
Found this:
Apparently there’s 9 hours of Crimea Platform proceedings from day 1 on utoob.
I for one have grass to watch grow.
But others may want to indulge
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J1yovsCotho&feature=emb_title
And for twitz
Crimea Platform
@crimeaplatform
“The consultation and coordination format is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the international response to the ongoing occupation of Crimea”
Don’t choke:
Crimea Platform
@crimeaplatform
Aug 24
“We are deeply concerned with the systematic human rights violations in Crimea, this particularly concerns Crimean Tatars who are living there – French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade.
@franckriester
at the #CrimeaPlatform summit
More daily UA news than you wanted to know: strana.news.ua.. Interesting articles at vz.ru, and many others..
Or U can continue wasting time on english-language sites..
The mouse that roared ! Nazi infested Ukraine is the ventriloquist’s dummy of Western imperialism. Facing economic ruin ( of their own making ) Ukraine will continue to sink even further into economic collapse. Just wait until no Russian gas flows through the pipelines. Emigration will continue and the untenable situation in the Donbas will fester until all Russians in Ukraine are repatriated. These buffoons can make all the public pronouncements they want inferring Crimea is still part of Ukraine. Reality on the ground paints an entirely different picture.
Shouldn’t they do something similar in respect of Kosovo?…
That the USA would send Pete Buttigieg secretary of transportation and former mayor of South Bend Indiana as the president’s special representative says it all. Clown car show. Maybe he will tour the area with his husband!
In Switzerland it is the president of the lower house (national council) who leads the federal assembly when they sit together. It is Currently Thomas Aebi. https://www.parlament.ch/en/organe/national-council/president-nc who represent this country in the Crimea-Platform.
Switzerland has long been bought and subjugated by the Anglo-Zionists.
Interesting that Lavrov uses the word “coven”. It means “clique” but also refers to a “gathering of witches “! I guess both definitions apply here…
I thought it rich they called the Russians racist for maybe in the future doing something about the Tartars while ignoring the UkroNazi ethnic cleansing and the wiping out of the Russian language in the Ukraine.
Yeah sure, the Bandera-fascist skin heads of Kiev are interested in minority groups, especially Tatars.
There are no lies rediculous enough that the west could be ashamed of. It could be funny if it weren’t so sad actually…
Maybe we should establish a platform for the de-occupation of the Hawaii Islands too. After all, they are disputed since they were annexed against their will and even had their own monarchy and republic.
A Joint Declaration of the International Hawaii platform that organizes a government in exile that gets recognized as the rightful president. Also remember how the natives of Hawaii are treated, most of them living in poverty.
I know sure, “whataboutism”. Still its frustrating to see how often Washington applies double standards…
Russia sent its delegates to the ‘Platform’ earlier: 25,000 of them in Green uniforms, with 2.5 million others right there with them.
They decided to take Crimea home with them. The issue was settled seven years ago.
Whatever transpires thereafter is moot. An exercise in Russophobia.
Only a comedian would assemble a Platform of non-entities and expect a positive result.
Hilarious.
The mouse that farted.
Larchmonter, my friend and comrade,
I have to agree with your assessment of February-March 2014. We handed Mother our city and this island on a silver platter. The only noise heard from our north border with OSSR was the sound of diapers being filled at a prodigious rate and the tooth gnashing screams from CIA East, aka American Embassy in Kiev as our polite young men in green appeared and relieved us at the barricades.
Auslander
>>Russia sent its delegates to the ‘Platform’ earlier:
L445.
Won a chortle from me
why oh why, when Soviet Union disintegrated back then, Russia never tried to take back territory where there are predominant russian speakers? if that was done, there would not be a mess like Crimea today
Russia was weak, corrupted, sabotaged, divided and poor. That’s the state of things.
It was impossible. It takes a ton of money and time to accomplish absorption of such areas.
As Saker eloquently wrote back in 2014:
I fully agree, adding that the Ukros are several orders of magnitude happier about winning the horrendous, execrable ESC than living in a highly industrialized, scientific, and overall thriving society which was Soviet Ukraine, Chernobyl notwithstanding. I fail entirely to see what is upsetting about taking advantage of such a staggering level of inanity. Ukros dearly yearned for European values and, boy, did they get European values! Shows that the cretins participating in this so-called “Platform” thingy most likely enjoy having people who sincerely ask them “kick us everywhere, please”. As if that would impress Russia, giggle.
“/…/ peacefully ending the Russian Federation’s temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea”
Can’t be done peacefully as the alleged occupation isn’t precisely temporary. Preposterous statements do have a certain something, but they rarely make a difference.
Suggestion to the platform: Appoint Navalny as President of the Russian Federation and ask him to decree an end to the occupation. That should solve the problem 100% peacefully.
“After the Western-backed state coup that occurred in Ukraine in February 2014, the authorities in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol held a referendum, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and reunite with Russia.”
I recall that there were calls for a boycott of this referendum, an erroneous tactic, and therefore it may be that those opposed did not vote at all, and so their votes were not counted. That would inflate the percentages and
make them less reliable.
———————–
80+% of the pop voted. -The Mod.
In any US election _ and US presidential election _ how many bother to vote?
And 2020 presidential election is still in dispute?
But of course, it’s Crimea and Belarus, Lithuania and Venezuela where the results of an election can, and are, weaponised for regime change.
So, if “aggression” negates any territorial acquisition, can all the people of Ukraine have their country back after it was stolen by that CIA-fomented coup in 2014? That seems to have been the worst bit of aggression in the ethnic grab bag that the Bolsheviks named Ukraine. Then probably half the country would vote to peacefully secede from the militant Kiev faction. Somehow I don’t think the West really wants Ukraine to actually follow the very principles it is fraudulently espousing. It’s frightening to see all those politicians gathered together acting in unison like a pack of hypocrites.
The problem is that they Did NOT submit this wonderful human
rights and brave fight against russian violations to the Crimeans themselves in another referendum.
Verified by international authorities and public.
well here is the suggestion.
Ah, lest I forget it> do the same in kossovo.
I swear, the Ukies must have taken lessons in how to endlessly whing, whine, and claim every sort of victimhood from the American Woke crowd. Of course, their platitudes and protocols of high honor do not apply to themselves in the least. Ukraine struts around like the BLM or Antifa of neocolonial, er, I mean “sovereign,” nations, with an American mitt firmly up its sock puppet derriere. Face it, Ukraine, Washington has no intention of ever bailing our your third world economy.
You fools are too stupid to realise you are being raped for your resources and the inconvenience you pose to Russia. The Poles and Balts need to take a caution by paying attention to your plight after your whirl-wind affair with Uncle Sam crashes and burns. Really, woe to you imbeciles when Uncle Sam starts a shooting war to “free and/or protect” your people. Check out how life has improved for the Koreans, Southeast Asians, Central Americans, sundry Caribbean islanders, Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians, Somalis and dozens of other places when Washington has shown them the “favor” of its military umbrella.
”Face it, Ukraine, Washington has no intention of ever bailing out your third world economy.”
Exactly — especially not with Crimea gone forever. Had Crimea become NATO territory which was the idea behind the ugly Maidan Nazi putsch, the US would have seriously blackmailed Russia, but not to any material, tangible benefit of the s••thole country called ”Ukraine”. Crimea would just be a Kosovo on the Black Sea, rife with dope, child prostitution, organized as well as petty crime. But to a proud Bandernazi, this certainly signifies progress of the very highest order. Bandernazi rule has wonderfully proven itself in the ”Ukraine”. Crimea would have none of it.
Let these idiots cough up their greenish mucus and keep them at a distance for fear of being splashed with it.
They can gesticulate and gesticulate and gesticulate again and again, but this only shows their impotence.
These sad clowns try to show us their decayed teeth and flabby muscles as when they were still powerful.
Let’s not pay any more attention to them and they will continue their bad show with no other spectators than themselves.
I’m deeply disappointed that Serbia is not taking part. I don’t understand how our government can be siding with Russia, the country that is godmother to independent Ukraine but also to independent Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro; the country that had sided with NATO in destruction of our nation and has been complicit in ethnic purges and fragmentation of the Serbian lands and people. Is it not obvious to Serbs that all those insignificant new countries that had been created and breastfed by both NATO and Russia, while suppressing our most elementary rights, are now way ahead of us. They stick with their own interests and with countries that were there for them when they needed them, in stark contrast with us who are sticking with those who had never brought us any good or progress, for all we ever get from our imaginary “brothers, friends and allies” are blood, tears and treason. We have learned absolutely nothing. Actually, not being able to learn from our own past seems to be the ONLY common feature of Serbs and Russians despite some other opinions. If we continue in this direction then our future won’t be any “brighter” than our past. We deserve nothing but contempt for we should stand by those who are denied just as we were denied. I DO salute Montenegro, the bastard daughter of mother Russia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia%E2%80%93Russia_relations
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://stanjestvari.com/2020/10/30/anja-filimonova-ambasador-ruske-federacije-odao-postu-organizatorima-masovnih-ubistava/
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&u=https%3A%2F%2Fvidovdan.org%2Finfo%2Frusi-finansirali-referendum-odvajanja-crne-gore-od-srbije%2F
So claimed
particular, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Slovenia, and Finland will be represented at the level of presidents. The President of the European Council will also take part in the Crimea Platform. Romania, Georgia, Croatia, and Sweden will be represented at the level of prime ministers. Two countries – Switzerland and the Czech Republic – will be represented by the speakers of parliaments. Fourteen countries will attend the summit at the level of foreign ministers: Turkey, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Britain and Portugal will be represented by defense ministers, while the United States will be represented by the transportation secretary, a special envoy of President Joe Biden. Norway will be represented by the Secretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The European Commission will be represented by Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, NATO – the Deputy Secretary General, the Council of Europe and GUAM will be represented at the level of the Secretary General. Seven countries – New Zealand, Malta, Japan, Australia, Cyprus, Canada, and Greece – will be represented by ambassadors.
Sanctions awaited?
Time for some singing, folks:
https://youtu.be/ApmgFPWzMFc
I have to say the solid beat is irresistible as is the powerful message. The Crimean ’platform’ and Ukro superstar Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova should be able to boost the performance further still.
Platformę krymską mają prawo organizować wyłącznie mieszkańcy Krymu. Czy polskojęzyczny Duda mieszka na Krymie? czy reszta tej watahy to mieszkańcy Krymu?
Dlaczego byle komu wydaje się, że może decydować za mieszkańców Krymu i o Krymie?
Ten sabat pokazał, że wataha czai się w dalszym ciągu i chce skrzyknąć krucjatę przeciw Rosji.
Rząd w Polsce prowadzi haniebną politykę, politykę antypolską, politykę agresywną i za to Polacy zapłacą i to już wkrótce.
Ziemie zajmowane przez Polaków to są tereny zdobyczne Armii Czerwonej i należą do Rosji jako sukcesorki ZSRR.
Polacy łamiąc umowy z ZSRR zrzekli się jednocześnie praw do ziem między Odrą i Bugiem.
I suspect that the island nation of Bimono is party to the forum with special backing from former joke of a US Ambassador to the United Nations: Niki Haley.
Now Hungary, lead by the right-wing government of Victor Orban has joined the anti-Russia crusade.