Crimean parliament unanimously votes in favour of becoming part of Russia

[Boys 9d]

Crimea is in fact a semi-autonomous state which means it cannot decide on its own to change from one country to another, legally it does not have the power on its own

Did Serbia have the power to stop Kosovo becoming independent?

 

[martyn20]

Did Serbia have the power to stop Kosovo becoming independent?

Technically Kosovo could not declare independence from Serbia and legally it has not done so

 

[Boys 9d]

It was part of Serbia and now the Republic of Kosovo has been recognised by 108 UN member states and is a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, International Road and Transport Union (IRU), Regional Cooperation Council, Council of Europe Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. 23 of 28 countries of the European Union have recognised the Republic of Kosovo. Serbia is one of the countries that that does not recognised the independence that was achieved by NATO military might.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

A bit like THE Withdean then.

Or 'The Asda'.

 

[somerset]

Serbia is one of the countries that that does not recognised the independence that was achieved by NATO military might.

You actually mean that a repeat of the Bosnia slaughter was prevented by NATO military might,... surely??

 

[Czechmate]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/06/uk-ukraine-idUKBREA1H0EM20140306

How is this being allowed to happen.

A land invasion of a European State and nobody is doing anything to stop it.

And no, this doesn't mean Chechnya can go it alone. Firstly, because seperation is a crime in Russia punishable with five years in prison and because Chechnya has already had a referendum in 2003! Astonishingly, Putin won in Chechnya with 99.76% votes and 99.61% turnout in 2012.

Just like Kiev's undemocratic Parliament voted unanimously in favour of being part of the EU and sever ties with Russia . Now the other area's will do the same , Donetsk , Dnepropetrovsk , Kharkiv , Odessa , split country coming up me thinks !

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Just like Kiev's undemocratic Parliament voted unanimously in favour of being part of the EU and sever ties with Russia . Now the other area's will do the same , Donetsk , Dnepropetrovsk , Kharkiv , Odessa , split country coming up me thinks !

So when did Kyiv's Parliament even vote to be part of the EU ?

Unanimous Hasn't even been a vote.

Could you point us towards the information about severing ties with Russia ? Or was that on RT News ( Putin TV )

 

[mune ni kamome]

Double standards from us in the West methinks. We support the overthrow of an elected government and then we're up in arms when a referendum is held in Crimea.

 

[SeagullinExile]

I can't believe the West is so shocked at this whole situation. After all, the EU especially has been provoking the Russians for years by moving in on their doorstep, and the Ukraine is just a step too far - The 'Bear' has bitten back, and quite frankly Putin has the West by the danglies. The Crimea won't be going back to the Ukraine, and I suggest the Eastern region of the country will go the same way. The bully boy tactics of the US/EU won't work this time, they've picked a fight with someone who will fight back.

Like it or not, Putin has played a blinder.

Dangerous times indeed.

 

[SeagullinExile]

Double standards from us in the West methinks. We support the overthrow of an elected government and then we're up in arms when a referendum is held in Crimea.

Nail on the head here mate.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

....
Like it or not, Putin has played a blinder.

Unless we embago his gas and oil sales to Europe, and buy them instead from Norway, and the US, depriving his economy of 100 billion $ a year.

 

[vegster]

Just like Kiev's undemocratic Parliament voted unanimously in favour of being part of the EU and sever ties with Russia . Now the other area's will do the same , Donetsk , Dnepropetrovsk , Kharkiv , Odessa , split country coming up me thinks !

I thought that the legitimate president blotted his copybook over his dealings with the protestors and as such was ousted along with his allies. What was left of the democratically elected parliament voted to remove him from office and hold new democratic elections. There has been no vote on joining the EU and no vote on severing ties with Russia.

 

[SeagullinExile]

Unless we embago his gas and oil sales, and get them instead from Norway, and the US, depriving his economy of 100 billion $ a year.

We (The EU) won't imo, Germany for instance has Russia as one of it's biggest trading partners. The US however is a different matter as they have minimal trade with Putin.

One thing is certain though, Russia will fight fire with fire whatever the US/EU does.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

We (The EU) won't imo, Germany for instance has Russia as one of it's biggest trading partners. The US however is a different matter as they have minimal trade with Putin.

One thing is certain though, Russia will fight fire with fire whatever the US/EU does.

It will be very silly for the EU to impose trade sanctions seeing that Russia supplies 40% of oil and gas consumption to member states.

 

[martyn20]

Can we be sure that if a referendum does take place in the Crimea this month the 30,000 offensive Russian troops who have recently crossed the border will not effect the outcome? I would have thought legally at least it raises a question mark over the result.

 

[martyn20]

It will be very silly for the EU to impose trade sanctions seeing that Russia supplies 40% of oil and gas consumption to member states.

Other suppliers could make up the difference and will probably make it financially viable

 

[vegster]

Can we be sure that if a referendum does take place in the Crimea this month the 30,000 offensive Russian troops who have recently crossed the border will not effect the outcome? I would have thought legally at least it raises a question mark over the result.

I think you will find that the voting slips are being printed, With the correct box crossed already and any Russian troops in the area will probably be given a Guest Vote which counts double.

 

[SeagullinExile]

Other suppliers could make up the difference and will probably make it financially viable

It's not just about gas mate, what about the huge amount of Russian cash invested in the City of London?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

We (The EU) won't imo, Germany for instance has Russia as one of it's biggest trading partners. The US however is a different matter as they have minimal trade with Putin.

One thing is certain though, Russia will fight fire with fire whatever the US/EU does.

It's easy to be too impressed by Russia, but in reality it is a big country with a population little more than UK + Germany , with a disproportionately big army ( and nukes ).

The world has changed since the USSR ( who didn't care about economic measures ).

Of course embargoing the purchase of oil would hurt us somewhat whilst alternative sources were brought into play, but Putin's economy would be ruined and there are really no response sanctions which would even match this.

I suspect this sanction is being kept a long way down the reserve list.

 

[SeagullinExile]

It's easy to be too impressed by Russia, but in reality it is a big country with a population little more than UK + Germany , with a disproportionately big army ( and nukes ).

The world has changed since the USSR ( who didn't care about economic measures ).

Of course embargoing the purchase of oil would hurt us somewhat whilst alternative sources were brought into play, but Putin's economy would be ruined and there are really no response sanctions which would even match this.

I suspect this sanction is being kept a long way down the reserve list.

Agreed. Sanctions like this would hurt us just as much, and in all likelihood push us closer to a 'hot' war.