Translated material
Crimea does not want to join NATO
Yushchenko approved multinational exercises
Viktor Yushchenko, despite seven days of anti-NATO protests in Crimea, gave the go-ahead for the international exercises “Sea Breeze 2006” and “Tight Knot 2006” with the participation of 40 countries to be held in Ukraine. In a decree dated June 3, the president refers to the fact that the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) confirmed the need for maneuvers. Yushchenko is confident that at the next meeting the Rada, the only government body authorized to give permission to allow foreign troops into the country, will support his decision. But in February, parliament banned multinational exercises in 2006.The Party of Regions, the Progressive Socialist Party and the Communist Party of Ukraine regarded the authorities’ attempts to conduct maneuvers, despite the Rada’s ban, as a direct violation of the law. In addition, yesterday the details of the exercises became known - it will be a staged invasion of the alliance forces into Crimea to suppress certain separatists. In Crimea, demonstrators picketed the Feodosia port on May 27, preventing the American transport ship Advantage from being unloaded. The pickets are confident that the ship delivered materials for the construction of a NATO base in Crimea. The Americans and Ukrainian authorities claim that Advantage brought materials for the construction of training facilities for the period of the Sea Breeze 2006 exercise.
In his decree, Yushchenko ordered the security service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and border guards to expel foreigners who took part in anti-NATO rallies out of the country. Among them were Russians, the acting media confirmed. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Vladimir Gorbulin. In connection with the Crimean events, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Boris Tarasyuk recalled “Mr. Zatulin, notorious for his anti-Ukrainian statements.” (Konstantin Zatulin - Duma deputy, director of the Institute of CIS Countries - Ed. ). If the facts of incitement are proven, then the offending foreigners “will be deported from the territory of Ukraine, and after considering the issue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they will be recognized as persona non grata,” the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry promised.
Showdowns are coming with the Crimean authorities, who have declared the territories under their jurisdiction to be NATO-free zones. The President instructed the Prosecutor General's Office to evaluate the actions of the city councils (Feodosia and Nikolaev) that exceeded their legislative powers.
The head of the Ukrainian center for political science research “Penta” Vladimir Fesenko believes that “the presidential decree is an attempt to resolve the crisis in Crimea and preserve Ukraine’s international reputation. But this document alone does not solve the problem.” In an interview with Vremya Novostei, the expert noted that “The Rada must pass a law that would allow international exercises, otherwise the opposition will play on legal contradictions.” “The most important question is whether Kyiv will ensure controllability in local authorities.” “The center has been challenged. Maintaining control over the situation in the country depends on whether the authorities restore order,” Mr. Fesenko told Vremya Novostei.