here is my Ukrainian dairy from Christmas 2007

Went to old work, then to court to meet Irina, we had wine and a cake and I sat in at a session. I bought an SD card and she filled up her account. I phoned Aidan and Lewis and she made me soup and a cake

Beautiful day. Went to court again. Had a walk in beautiful weather. 7 degrees, like spring. Irina gave me wine. We went for a cheap meal, then she helped me buy clothes. I tried 3 banks, card not working, I used my normal card and it worked. Bought jeans and a t-shirt then went home

Went to the museum at Khersones. It was very cold and slightly windy. It was a beautiful place, saw battleships. Had a light meal, there was a mad man. We met Lena at home and talked and laughed

Her kids came, then we went to the hall, before had a hot dog and a beer, after a quick bite, then we went in the bus to her home. Before, bought flowers, a card and cognac. Her parents had a meal ready. Every time we toasted he filled the glass with vodka and I had to finish it. I tried to refuse. Food with vodka. We got a taxi home, and went to bed early, then woke up at 12

Had a lazy morning, then went to the market to get hard disk and bought english books

Went to the museum and got an english tour. she spoke like an educated english person. She had read and memorise everything. I asked her some simple questions, but she did not understand. I asked her about name stalingrad, and if Russia and Ukraine were together before soviet union, she did not understand. Then went to the potato house, then met tanya for a drink at a bar, later Lena came and we drank more and we all got a taxi

Had a quiet day and made curry at night

Had a quiet morning and went to tanyas flat, and had a meal, then went for a drink and they met an old friend

Went to panorama then the fairground made borsh

Had a quiet day. Sasha had a sore back. Went to bus station. Went to market and we made farsh at night. Fell asleep at 6

Last days. Did more cooking, (made cutlets. tried to fix the computer again, bought presents.
Tanya saw us off with bottles of lager. Sasha went with me to Simferopol, bought ‘Scotch’, then got the airport bus, waited and had a drink and said goodbye

Here is my diary from May 2008, Ukraine.

4/5/08
It was a lovely sunny evening in Edinbugh. I Found a seat, it was quiet, but didn’t sleep much, but rested well. as usual there was a big queue. The Kiev plane was a little late and I didn’t have long to wait before i had to board the Simferopol plane. I had a shave in toilet and felt better. When I arrived in Simferopol we took a taxi straight home. It was about £30.

Это был прекрасный солнечный вечер в Эдинбурге. Я нашёл тихое место спать было нельзя но можно хорошо отдохнуть. Как обычно была большая очередь. Киевский самолёт опоздал немного. Ия не должен был долго ждать посадки в Симферопольский самолёт. Я чувствовал себя лучше когда побрился в самолёте. Когда я прибыл в Симферополь, мы взяли такси прямо домой, это стоило приблизительно 30 евро.

5/5/08
We went to court for a little while, then saw Irina there. We went a walk near the water. We saw ships and a submarine then saw soldiers and sailors, then met Nikita and ate pasta and pizza.

На некоторое время мы пошли в суд, там видели Ирину. Мы гуляли возле моря. Мы видели корабли и подводную лодку, видели солдат и матросов, потом встретили Никиту и ели пасту и пиццу.

6/5/08
We went to balaklava in the afternoon. We walked along the coast a little then had a drink then went to buy sunglasses
Днём мы поехали в Балаклаву. Мы немного гуляли по берегу, пошли выпить и купили очки от солнца.
7/5/08
We went to the shops and bought contact lense fluid and asked about fixing my glasses but they could not fix them. Then a man fixed my chain, then we looked for a bag but the central market was closed. Then we went for food, then we went home and had salad for lunch then took nikita to dance lessons. We walked about, then went to macdonalds with nikita then came home

Мы пошли в магазины и купили жидкость для мытья контактных линз. И интересовались по поводу ремонта моих очков, но они не могли их чтнить. Потом мужчина починил мою цепь, потом искали сумку на центральном рынке, но он был закрыт. Потом мы купили продукты, пошли домой и имели салат на обед, потом отвели Никиту на урок танцев. Потом мы пошли в macdonalds с Никитой,потом домой.
8/5/08
Went for a meal at her mums. i Had a sore stomach because I ate too much. We took nikita to the concert, met Sergei, and went for a drink after the concert with Tanya, then home about 10.30
Пошёл к её маме покушать. Потом у меня болел живот потому, что я слишком много съел. Мы отвели Никиту на концерт, встретили Сергея и пошли с Таней выпить после концерта, потом домой около 10.30

9/5/08
I had a quiet morning because I still had a sore stomach. We bought a bag and she bought me a shirt. We made green borsh

У меня было тихое утро потому, что у меня всё ещё болел живот. Мы купили сумку и она купила мне рубашку. Мы приготовили зелёный борщ.

10/5/08
I felt better. We took nikita to dance lessons. We saw the naval display, drank coffee then went to a meeting after the dance lesson then went to macdonalds then to the market. She bought me honey, and we bought apples, and a wooden crosses and another metal necklace and a bracelet then came home. I made apples and sasha made mushroom soup and a cake

Я чувствовал себя лучше. Мы отвели Никиту на урок танца. Мы видели военно- морской парад выпили кофе потом пошли на встречу после урока танцев, потом пошли в macdonalds потом на рынок. Она купила мне мёд и мы купили яблоки и деревянные кресты и другое металлическое ожерелье и браслет и пошли домой. Я приготовил яблоки и Саша приготовила грибной суп и пирог.

11/5/08
Sasha fried prawns in then made a biscuit cake. Then we went to a court on the outskirts of the city. We waited but it was postponed because one of the lawyers didn’t come. Then we bought beer and crisps and drank next to the see, then went to the photo centre to print a photo, then bought fish. Sasha made fish in tomato sauce

Саша жарила креветки потом приготовила бисквитный пирог. Потом мы пошли в суд на окраине города. Мы ждали но ?????? потому, что один из адвокатов не явился. Потом мы купили пиво и чипсы пили возле моря, потом мы пошли в фото-центр напечатать фотографию, потом купили рыбу. Саша приготовила рыбу в томатном соусе.

12/5/08
we got up early and went to school then notary then went to the west side of the city by boat and went to the monument and drank beer and watched the sea near the cliff. Then went back and picked up nikita and went for a pizza
Встал рано и пошёл в школу потом к нотариусу потом поехал на западную сторону города на лодке и пошёл к памятнику и пил пиво и смотрел на море на утёсе. Потом забрал Никиту и пошёл в пиццу.

13/5/08
On wednesday we got up early again and went to school then took a bus to the bus station then went to Yalta. We saw beautiful mountains and scenery. When we arrived in Yalta we walked along the beach and bought souvenirs. Then we went in the cable car to the top and had a drink in the bar at the top. Then we ate chicken and meat and prawns and cheese sandwiches and fed the birds. Then we went back to the bus station and waitied for an hour and went home.

В среду мы встали опять рано и пошли в школу потом сели в автобус на автобусной станции и поехали в Ялту. Мы видели прекрасные горы и пейзаж. Когда мы приехали в Ялту мы гуляли вдоль пляжа и купили сувениры. Потом мы поехали на канатной дороге на верх выпили в баре на верху. Потом мы съели курицу, мясо, креветки и бутерброды с сыром и кормили птиц. Потом мы вернулись на автобусную станцию ждали в течении часа???? и поехали домой
14/5/08

We had a lazy day, then bought presents for Aidan and Lewis and vodka. Then we went to Khersones and went to the beach for a picnic and saw the ruins again. The weather was very good
У нас был ленивый день, мы купили подарки для Идана и Люиса и водку. Потом мы пошли на Херсонес на пляж для пикника и опять смотрели на развалины. Погода была очень хорошая.

by Oleg Smirnov

2 milkmaids from Sevastopol (Crimea) claimed they do not need any information about NATO military block.

“I do not need that. I am busy with my garden and my cow. I get a small pension and have to work”, said milkmaid Liubov standing near her cow.

“I do not have enough time to listen to NATO. What I am really interested in is milk sale. I wish to sell our milk to NATO, but not to buy their milk”, explained milkmaid Lidia.

Milkmaids responded to the question of Sevastopol “HTC” TV channel which referred to NATO Military Liaison Officer in Kiev Martin Kozel.

He stated that NATO information and propaganda campaign in Ukraine should be aimed at reaching “a milkmaid from Sevastopol”.

Milkmaid is a very rare occupation in Sevastopol.

by Oleg Smirnov

Sevastopol has begun to turn off street lights at midnight since October, 1st.

As the city state administration chairman Sergei KUNITSYN explained, it is done to economize around 30 thousand grivnas ($3700) per month. Kunitsyn issued an order in September to begin the shutdown of streetlights at midnight.

“We advise to all citizens of Sevastopol to stay at home after midnight and not to go into the streets till 5 a.m. Then everything will be O.K.”, said vice-chairman of Sevastopol state administrarion, Miroslav SAGAIDAK.

Street lights are being turned on from 5 a.m till 7 a.m daily.

The routine of electricity economy in Sevastopol will last until spring 2010.

by Oleg Smirnov

Two citizens of Sevastopol have been ranked 5th in top 100 Ukrainian bribetakers.

According to the top 100 rating prepared by Ukrainian militia (police), the head of cooperative building society board and one of the board members took a bribe of 1.7 mln grivnas ($212 thousand). They intended to take another 2.2 mln grivnas ($271 thousand) bribe.

This case has been passed over to court.

Citizens of Sevastopol are pointed out 4 times in the top 100 Ukrainian bribetakers. A head forester is accused in taking 2.4 mln grivnas bribe ($296 thousand). A local Inkerman council deputy is suspected in getting $50 thousand bribe.

More: www.mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/ma@in/uk/publish/article/253467;jsessionid=3B9DDF0670AA1A558B27A718E2DEE86D

Attention sailors: the turn-your-arms-against-Kremlin leaflet near the entrance to Russian fleet HQ in Sevastopol, Ukraine

Sevastopol, 20.09.09: Leaflets, urging Russian servicemen to turn up their arms against the Russian government in case of war between Russia and Ukraine, are circulated in Sevastopol (Crimea, Ukraine) which is the main naval base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Crimean-based Russian news agency Novyy Region reports on 1834 gmt 19 Sep 09.

The leaflets say that the Russian government plans to use Russian soldiers, deployed in Ukraine, as a “human shield” when the war starts. “The war with Ukraine will begin shortly. The Kremlin leadership needs this war to save its rapidly falling popularity and distract ordinary Russians from acute problems in Russia itself. You will just become a pawn in this game. Think about your mother, sailor,” one such leaflet, plastered at the entrance to the Russian Black Sea Fleet HQ in Sevastopol,  says.

The leaflet goes on to say that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is in the poor state, both in technical and morale terms, and stands no chance against the Ukrainian military who will fight for their own homeland. The recent fire on the fleet’s flagship, the Moskva missile cruiser, and the subsequent attempts of the Russian navy command to hush it up, risking lives of military personnel, proves the point, the leaflet adds. “Turn your arms against your real enemies, the Kremlin vampires. Save Russia,” adds the leaflet.

It is believed that the Russian extremist anti-government group Northern Brotherhood is behind the leaflet. The group leader Petr Khomyakov is now in hiding in Ukraine after the Russian government launched criminal cas against him. Khomyakov and another Northern Brotherhood member Yuriy Belyayev as well as a little-known group, the Coordination council of Russian radical opposition, signed the leaflet. The Northern Brotherhood pursues the idea of overthrowing the current Russian government of Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev by starting a “liberation war”. According to plans, masterminded by Khomyakov, the group should use the imminent military conflict between Russia and Ukraine to start a revolution in Russia.

Picture source: Novyy Region

According to news agency Agerpress, earlier this week on board the cruiser Moskva, the ship-admiral of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been an explosion, followed by a fire.

Russian authorities have avoided (predictably) to publicize the incident. So the first details emerged only yesterday afternoon. Official informations indicating that the incident was  minor and there were no casualties. While unofficial sources claim that following the explosion of a boiler auxiliary, at least 10 people were injured on the cruiser Moskva. Several ambulances of the Russian Fleet in Sevastopol have been mobilized to transport the wounded to hospital of the Russian naval base in the port city in southern Ukraine, conform Interfax.

De Russische Zwarte Zee vloot in de haven van Sevastopol, Oekraine

Op advies van Anton ga ik naar de haven waar veerboten naar diverse locaties in de baai van Sevastopol varen. Het zijn locale veerdiensten, die vooral het woon-werkvervoer regelen. Maar wil je een beeld krijgen van de Russische Zwarte Zee vloot die in Sevastopol baai ligt, kun je het beste de veerboot naar ‘Inkerman’ nemen, een industrieplaatsje in het noord-oosten van de baai. Dan kom je er langs. Dat wist Anton me te vertellen nadat ik heb de hemd van het lijf vroeg over de marinevloot van de Russen die Sevastopol zo kenmerkt.

“De Zwarte Zee vloot heeft alleen nog symbolische waarde voor Rusland”, daar is Anton, politicoloog aan de universiteit van Sevastopol, van overtuigd. “Erg veel kan de marinebasis niet meer verrichten. De vloot is sterk verouderd en de focus van Rusland ligt niet in de Zwarte Zee, dus er wordt ook niet in geïnvesteerd. Bovendien, met de NAVO in Turkije en Bulgarije maken we geen schijn van kans in de Zwarte Zee.” Ook, zegt hij, ligt de het grootste deel van de vloot flink diep landinwaarts in de baai. Bij mogelijke dreiging moeten de Russische schepen eerst langs de Oekraïense vloot. De onderzeeërs dobberen zelfs in de zuidelijke baai, praktisch ín de stad.

Een symbool dus. Na het uiteenvallen van de Sovjet-Unie is de vloot een nog belangrijker symbool geworden. De Krim kwam ooit in handen van Oekraïne dankzij een gulle gift van president Kroesjtsjev in 1954. Toendertijd had dat cadeautje nog niet zoveel gevolgen, aangezien Oekraïne en Rusland tezamen in de Sovjet-Unie zaten. Nu ligt de Russische vloot op geleased grondgebied van Oekraine. En met een regering die flirt met de NAVO én het einde van die lease in zicht (in 2017), maakt Moskou zich nu toch wat meer zorgen.

De veerboot vertrekt precies op tijd. De motor pruttelt de Zwarte Zee nog zwarter. Ik sta op het dek en naast me komen twee mannen staan. Eén van hen heeft een grote cameratas om zijn buik hangen. In het Russisch vertelt hij zijn vriend dat het eerste schip dat we tegenkomen bij de Oekraïense vloot hoort (toen de Sovjet-Unie uiteenviel, werd de Russische vloot verdeeld. Oekraine kreeg drie kleine ‘bootjes’ en Rusland de rest). De blauw-gele vlaggetjes zijn in de minderheid tussen de rode met een wit kruis erop. In steenkolen Russisch vraag ik de heren waar die vlag voor staat. Of ik Amerikaans ben, vraagt één van hen die later Sasha blijkt te heten. Als ik ontkennend reageer, beantwoordt hij mijn vraag vriendelijk: Dat is de vlag van de Russische Zwarte Zeevloot.

Sasha is uiteraard Russisch. Hij woont in Simferopol, de tweede stad van de Krim. Deze boottocht heeft hij al ontelbare malen gemaakt. “Het is mijn hobby”, vertelt hij in stotterend Engels. Hij blijkt een marinekenner te zijn. Je kent die vliegtuigspotters wel, nou Sasha is een spotter van alles wat met het leger en de marine te maken heeft. Een ‘navyfreak’, noemt hij het zelf.

Gefocused kijkt hij door zijn cameralens naar de Russische marineschepen waar de veerboot gestaag langs vaart. “Zie je die missle shooter daar?”, Sasha wijst naar het grote grijze gevaarte waar we op afvaren, met bommenwerpers aan weerszijden. “De vloot is dan niet zo sterk meer als ie is geweest, maar dát ding kan veel vernietigen hoor”, grijnst hij. Eén van de grootste marineschepen ontbreekt momenteel in de haven. Die is onderweg naar de Baltische Zee voor een oefening met de Russische Baltische Zee vloot. En ook het schip dat vorig jaar naar Georgië afvoer om te ondersteunen in de oorlog, is nog niet terug. Wat je nu ziet is nog lang niet alles, wil de navyfreak dus zeggen.

Groepjes mariniers gekleed in matrozenpakjes vullen de straten van deze stad. In het weekend en ’s avonds zitten ze in café’s of drinken ze bier op straat. Of ze marcheren bij plechtigheden, herdenkingen en feestelijkheden. Het is een normaal straatbeeld in Sevastopol, de witte pakken met marineblauwe petjes, en die eeuwige rode ster op de bovenarm. Mocht de Zwarte Zee vloot in 2017 uit de Savastopol haven verdwijnen, dan verdwijnt ook het karakter van Sevastopol, zo zegt nagenoeg iedereen die ik hier spreek. “Iedereen hier wil dat de Russen hier blijven”, zegt ook Sasha. “En zodra die eikel van een Yushchenko weg is, is dat probleem ook opgelost. Dan blijft de marinebasis hier, zoals het hoort.”

Een symbool van politieke macht of van vergane glorie? Hoe dan ook, de Russische Zwarte Zee vloot is nu meer dan ooit een symbool van de strijd tussen Rusland en het Westen. Als het pro-westerse blok de verkiezingen in januari 2010 wint, dan moet de vloot weg. Als pro-Rusland overwint, dan blijft ie. In het laatste geval heeft Rusland wat ze wil. Een machtspositie in de Krim. De laatste exitpolls wijzen uit dat het pro-Russische blok met presidentskandidaat Yanukovich aan kop gaat. [Inderdaad, dat is de man die vijf jaar geleden de verkiezingen verloor van de huidige president Yushchenko, wat voor een turbulente regimeverandering zorgde dankzij de welbekende Oranje Revolutie. Die Yushchenko heeft het vijf jaar lang geprobeerd, en het zo verkloot dat Oekraine nu weer pro-Russisch lijkt te gaan worden.]

]]> http://mitranazar.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/lenin-waakt-over-sevastopol/ Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:57:47 +0000 Mitra Nazar http://mitranazar.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/lenin-waakt-over-sevastopol/

Lenin waakt over Sevastopol

Uiteraard ging ik op bezoek bij Lenin.

Of all the projects and property deals were are involved with in Ukraine, the Lighthouse apartments continue to attract the most interest. This despite a painful recession that has hit Ukraine hard. Our conclusion from this is that quality shines brighter in dark times. Frontline, overlooking the Black Sea’s best natural harbour and possibly most impressive neo classical city is hard to beat.

Tourism in Crimea

What’s happened to the market in Crimea? Well, it has as you might expect, suffered a downturn.

However, it has been affected the least of any region in Ukraine and, in fact, has consolidated its position as a favoured holiday destination.

According to Andriy Sumtsov, the autonomous republic’s minister for tourism, the Crimea costs about 15 percent less on average to comparable tourist areas in Russia. Official data show that Crimea attracted about 5.6 million tourists last year. And about 1.6 million have visited this season till July 10th.

Whilst it’s estimated that the influx of visitors for the first half of this year will be around 20 percent down on the same period last year, the minister points out that this is still 3% up on 2006.

In addition, with the slide in value of the Ukrainian currency, the hryvnia, and the Russian ruble, many Russians and Ukrainians are likely to choose Crimea instead of Turkey and Egypt this year. In other words, Crimea has a strong fundamental tourist appeal and is holding its own in the recession. It’s well placed for serious growth once markets have stabilized.

Crimean investment

Interestingly, there has been speculation that The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering making Crimea a high priority for investment. They already support infrastructure and energy projects on the Peninsular, such as Communal Water and Wastewater Utility of the South Coast of the Crimea and wind power.

Earlier this month in Simferopol, Ukrainian President, Victor Yushchenko, stressed that Crimea has a unique opportunity to become the priority for regional development within the framework of EU’s Eastern Partnership. According to the President, several months ago through the framework of European Neighborhood Policy, Ukraine started a dialogue with the European Union on a separate program for the economic development of Crimea, which the EU would soon consider.

Crimea lies at the meeting point between the West and Russia, giving strategic importance. It has the Black sea’s premier natural harbour, Sevastopol. Plus its south coast has the only “Mediterranean” climate in that region, with powerful appeal to tourists. Little wonder that the EU seeks to increase prosperity and stability.

Seafront restriction

At time of the Lighthouse apartments gaining development approval, a planning policy has been introduced that looks to restrict seafront developments to 4 floors, particularly around the historic harbour entrance location where our project is located. The local authorities have the understandable objective of not wanting to “Benidorm” their classical seafront. You can imagine how 15 storey concrete walls overlooking Roman ruins wouldn’t help Sevastopol’s long term tourist appeal.

The Lighthouse, which has a reasonable seven floors, was just about the last through the door. You can imagine how this will enhance the project’s value. We have to admit this was more good fortune and not brilliant foresight! Although that’s the kind of benefit that can accrue investing in an up and coming location; by getting in at an early stage.

Dette var dagen hvor vi skulle reise fra den koselige boligen ingen i Norge som ikke har vært her vil kunne forestille seg, og forlate det koselige gamle ekteparet som hadde leid den ut til oss. Våre 20 lykkelige dager var forbi.

Jeg hadde fått presset igjennom at vi skulle til Sevastopol. Jeg hadde vært der før, i 2007 under høstferien min, da jeg fikk med meg Odessa, Jalta, Sevastopol og Kiev, men enda ikke hadde begynt å skrive blogg, og av de stedene må jeg si at det var Sevastopol som gjorde klart dårligst inntrykk. Det var en erketypisk, russisk storby med altfor mye betong og altfor lite trivsel. Den har imidlertid en rik historie, og av den hadde jeg ikke fått med meg alt, og derfor ville jeg tilbake dit.

Så vi kjøpte oss bussbilletter hele veien fra Alusjta til Sevastopol for noe sånt som 20 kroner, eller så, betydelig mindre enn hundrelappene jeg hadde brukt for å ta taxi fra Jalta til Sevastopol sist gang. Det lønner seg å være gift, og ha en russisk kone til å ordne opp. For dem som vil til Krim og klare seg selv, er å vite at det alltid finnes bussbilletter, om man bare er stødig nok i russisk til å komme seg til kassen på busstasjonen – eller автоваксал, som det heter her. Taxi er enklere og raskere, og et eventyr i seg selv, så jeg angrer ikke på at jeg tok taxi sist gang, selv om jeg sikkert ville greid å kjøpe meg billetter. En taxitur her nede er et eventyr i seg selv, og er man stødig nok i russisk, så får man en flott samtale og en grei innføring i forholdene på Krim uansett.

Avgang

Bussen hadde avgang klokken 0915, og ikke 1030, som jeg trodde, så det var bra jeg hørte på Olia og satte vekkerklokken på 0700, som hun krevde, og ikke 0800, som jeg ønsket. Flott setning. Jeg hadde altså hodet innstilt på 1030 og riktig så god tid da vi våknet. Ingenting var naturligvis pakket, dagen før hadde vi oss en avslutningstur til Santa Barbara, favorittstedet vårt, og en ordentlig avslutningsmiddag med rikelig av Krimsk vin og alt annet på favorittrestauranten vår. Skulle bare mangle da at vi begynte å pakke da vi kom hjem.

Så jeg hadde god tid, og satte meg til for å lese dagens kapitler av Anna Karenina da jeg hadde pakket mitt. Vi hadde også noen åpnede flasker vin stående, og jeg satte meg fore å drikke dem opp sånn på morgenkvisten. Det var leit å la dem stå igjen, selv om de også hadde gjort god nytte hos den trivelige barin vi bodde hos. Plutselig sjekket Olia bussbillettene på ny, og fant ut den skulle gå et kvarter tidligere enn hun trodde. Vi var i hastverk.

Jeg pakket sammen bøkene og styrtet vinen (ikke uten å skjenke et nytt glass), og så gikk jeg inn og la på plass de siste ledninger og krimskrams jeg fortsatt hadde liggende, mens Olia serverte frokosten. Hele tiden drev den gamle barin og tumlet rundt, og når vi snakket med ham hadde vi sjarmerende god tid, da var det som bussen ikke hadde avgang i det hele tatt.

Da vi endelig hadde pakket og spist alt, hadde jeg gjort heroisk forsøk med vinflaskene, og forlot stedet med den ene flasken tømt, den andre bare med en halvskvett igjen. Jeg hadde også med et fullt pappkrus for reisen, Ukraina er herlig slik, man er ikke pripne på sånt. Før avreise satte vi oss ned for en siste liten prat og avslutningsseanse med det gamle ekteparet. Olia ville gjennomføre den tradisjonelle stillheten på kofferten før hun gikk, men den gamle Barin pratet og romstrerte i ett sett, så den tradisjonelle stillheten var på brøkdelen av et sekund, og så gikk vi.

Bussturen

Jeg kan bare i en setning skrive rett ned hvor fornøyelig det er å sitte morgenberuset av vin med et fullt pappkrus enda mer vin i en skranglete liten minibuss på den vakre strekningen fra Alusjta til Sevastopol langs sørkysten av Krim. Det er blått Svartehav på den ene siden, stupbratte, høye fjell på den andre, og hele tiden vinranker, grønne trær og planter i mellom, alltid noe nesten verdt å fotografere. Når man i tillegg har en vakker russisk kone ved siden av, er lykken fullkommen.

Ankomst Sevastopol

Jeg hadde flere ganger spurt Olia om hun visste hva hun skulle gjøre da vi kom frem til Sevastopol, og hun hadde hele tiden sagt hun hadde det hele under kontroll. Jeg var allikevel litt skeptisk da vi kom frem. Det var som jeg husket det, en litt for stor og litt for uskjønn by, og en busstasjon som lå midt ute i ingenting i utkanten av byen.

Olia var imidlertid blid og målrettet. – Der er en restaurant, sa hun på russisk, der ordet betegner mye mer enn det vi ville kalle restaurant på norsk, deriblant dette stedet med en liten bod, og grønne plaststoler og plastbord å sitte på, – der kan du kjøpe øl, og så kan vi spise nisten. Hun skjønner hvordan en mann tenker.

Nistematen og ølet fra plastkrus på denne kafeen skulle bli høydepunktet under oppholdet vårt i Sevastopol.

Sevastopol

Over mange av byene jeg besøker i Russland og Ukraina og andre steder, skriver jeg en liten oversikt over byens historie. Over Sevastopol vil jeg ikke gjøre noe slikt, selv om byen klart ville fortjent det. Dens historie er mye mer interessant enn byen er nå, med betydning både under Krimkrigen og andre verdenskrig, og også udødeliggjort gjennom Lev Tolstojs Sevastopol-fortellinger. Det var også disse tingene som gjorde at jeg ville besøke byen. Men på en varm sommerferie med en kone som har såpass sunne interesser i livet at hun vil sole seg, bade og bli brun, så var ikke dette noen god ide.

Etter at vi hadde spist nistematen spurte Olia første og beste person hun fant på holdeplassen et eller annet på russisk som jeg ikke fikk med meg, og så vinket hun på meg og vi gikk øyeblikkelig inn i en marsjrutka. Denne reisen var heller ikke så verst, vi fikk sett byen, og den massive mengden båter til kai på havnen der russeren også har sin Svartehavsflåte, gjør inntrykk. Byen har også noen fine steder, og selvsagt en rekke monumenter fra alle krigene den har vært med på.

Olia hadde imidlertid spurt oss frem til stranden. Den lå et meget godt stykke utenfor sentrum. Da vi kom dit var det å lempe ut all bagasjen, og gå på jakt etter et sted å bo. Det er slett ikke så lett i Sevastopol, som i alle de andre småbyene langs kysten og sikkert også ellers på Krim. Årsaken er nok den opplagte at til Sevastopol kommer det ikke turister.

I et uvirkelig, sandete landskap med veier og boligblokker fra Sovjettiden fant vi frem til tre hus midt i en eng, der det ene hadde rom til leie for en eller annen pris. Men det var muligens det skulle leies ut til noen andre, så vi satte fra oss koffertene (det vil si min, Olia hadde bare en liten sekk), og gikk for å bade.

Badingen var fryktelig. Stort mer er ikke å si om den. Det var ikke ordentlig hav med vid utsikt, bare en liten bukt med skittenbrunt vann og ting som lå og fløt, til overmål var vannet kaldt, hvordan det må ha gått til. Olia betegnet treffende stranden som samme kvalitet som Hydropark i Kiev, og alle som har vært der, vet hva det innebærer.

Det var med klare ord ikke noe særlig med noen ting. Så Olia bestemte på vegne av oss begge at her var det bare å komme seg tilbake dit vi kom fra. Jeg fikk inn kompromisset at vi i hvert fall skulle på vestsiden av Jalta denne gangen, så vi fikk se noen nye steder. Olia gikk med på det. Og så var det bare å hente koffertene, finne den samme marsjrutkaen som hadde fraktet oss hit ut, og reise tilbake til busstasjonen. På busstasjonen var det å kjøpe første og beste bussbillett til Alupka.

Alupka

Alupka er en by som egentlig har ganske mange severdigheter. De viktigste av dem hadde vi fått med oss allerede mens vi bodde i Alusjta. Man er like under Aj-Petri, det høye fjellet med taubane, og like ved Voronskovskij dvorets, det flotte palasset til den gamle russiske prinsen. Byen er liksom blitt til som følge av disse severdighetene, og er en ordentlig ferieby, der all virksomhet er tilknyttet ferielivet.

Til Alupka kom vi mens det ennå var ettermiddag. Her var vi tilbake til det vante, det var rom til leie overalt, og folk flest kom direkte fra stranden eller var på vei dit. Det var ordentlig feriestemning.

Olia nølte ikke noe særlig med å finne rom til innkvartering. Hun ville ha det billig (Alupka er en dyrere by enn Alusjta, kort og godt fordi den ligger nærmere severdighetene jeg nevnte), og i det lyktes hun med til gangs. Jeg er matematiker, og liker å være konkret. Kort sagt: Rommet vårt var 5 kvadratmeter.

Der slo vi oss imidlertid lykkelig til ro. Olia laget oss et lite middagsmåltid under de håpløse kjøkkenforholdene, vi drakk en kopp te laget på vannkoker, vi la oss. Og det var det.

Andre, 24, plays a mouth harp amid the ruins of Chersonessus, the 2,500 year old Greek city outside of Sevastopol, Ukraine.

New Delhi-Memory, they say, is the writer’s most crucial tool.

That and a sturdy notebook.

I’ve just spent the past day reworking and adding to an article I wrote on Ukraine several months ago. The original article was fairly academic in nature. This article, done for Delhi’s Caravan magazine, is more of a travel story.

Revisiting the story made me want to return to this “borderland” country, as I call it in the story. It also has me interested in a subject that will only become more and more necessary to learn about in the 21st century. That is the idea of cultures forming enclaves and communities that transcend normal regional boundaries.

In the next few weeks I will be drafting story proposals for around the January 2010 Ukrainian presidential election. This election will serve as yet another sparring match between Russia and the West. With a little luck I’ll be there to cover it. It will give me a chance to look more closely at culture and ethnicity and how they are reshaping the map.

See my photos by clicking here.

Sevastopol – Images by Justin Vela

Day 7, Sevastopol

If Odessa is confused as to being Ukrainian or Russian, Sevastopol
seems to think it is still in Russia.  While at least all the writing
on the streets in Odessa was in Ukrainian, Sevastopol didn’t even
bother with that.  Everything is in Russian here.  On top of it,
Sevastopol has not noticed that the Soviet Union fell apart and the
cold war is over.  The city is thoroughly Soviet and military.  It had
been closed to foreigners until Ukraine succeeded from the Soviet
Union in the 1990-s.
While other cities changed the street names back to their
pre-Revolutionary original names, here they still bear the names of
Lenin, the revolution, and plain old “Soviet.”  The monuments, which
are many, are all done in the neo-realist Soviet style – heavy, bulky,
and overly realistic.  No room for imagination here, everything is
spelled out for you.  The monuments commemorate the military history
of this place.  There is a gigantic stature of Lenin stretching his
arm to the sea, surrounded by four staples of the revolution: the
worker, the peasant, the sailor, and the soldier.  Also, the hammer
and sickle are fairly ubiquitous.  Sevastopol is home to both the
Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian Fleet, and sailors in shabby
uniforms abound. The buildings were built in the neo-classic style
typical of the Stalin era – a toned down Washington, D.C.  The main
street, which in every city but Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Odessa,
was called Lenin Street, remained Lenin Street.  This is the only main
street I have ever been to that has no shops, no restaurants, and, in
this lovely climate, no outdoor cafes.  It reflects the military past –
the lower military personal did not shop and eat out, and the higher
brass had everything delivered to their private residences.
Yet, the city is not ugly.  Pretty it is not, neither it is charming,
it is just very constricted, constipated. It needs to be liberated
from its own prison, added some life and liveliness.  As it is, it
leaves me completely untouched, with no emotions, good or bad.  No
wonder that even though I have been here once or twice as a child, I
have no recollection of it  - it is thoroughly forgettable.

Matxcơva không có ý định rút khỏi căn cứ hải quân Sevastopol ở Ukraina nhưng sẽ tái lập cơ sở cho hạm đội Biển Đen bên trong lãnh thổ Nga.

Tàu chiến Nga tại cảng Sevastopol của Ukraina. Ảnh: Navy.

Tham mưu trưởng quân đội Nga Nikolai Makarov cho biết: “Chúng tôi không đặt ra mục tiêu rời Sevastopol nhưng lập kế hoạch xây dựng cơ sở mới cho Hạm đội Biển Đên gần Novorossiisk”.

Người đứng đầu cơ quan phụ trách xây dựng đặc biệt của Nga là Nikolai Abroskin cho biết chương trình ba giai đoạn xây dựng căn cứ mới cho Hạm đội Biển Đen ở Novorossiisk sẽ hoàn thành vào năm 2020 và trị giá khoảng 2,85 tỷ USD.

Theo một thỏa thuận giữa Nga và Ukraina năm 1997, Hạm đội Biển Đen được đóng tại cảng Sevastopol cho đến năm 2017. Tuy nhiên, Nga muốn kéo dài thời hạn còn Kiev hối thúc họ rút khỏi đó.

Ukraina có vị trí chiến lược đối với Matxcơva bởi hệ thống đường ống dẫn dầu và khí đốt của Nga sang phương Tây đi qua nước này. Ukraina cũng có một bộ phận dân số nói tiếng Nga và giữ quan hệ chặt chẽ với Nga.

Quan hệ giữa Nga – Ukraina từng căng thẳng sau cuộc chiến chớp nhoáng giữa Nga và Gruzia hồi năm ngoái. Một số tàu thuộc hạm đội Biển Đen đã rời cảng Sevastopol tới thả neo ngoài khơi Gruzia trong suốt thời gian xung đột. Ukraina doạ không cho các tàu này trở về căn cứ do lo ngại bị kéo vào cuộc chiến đó.

Nhiều người dân Ukraina cũng lo ngại sau khi giải quyết xong vấn đề với Gruzia, Matxcơva sẽ để mắt đến Kiev bởi nước này cũng đang nỗ lực tìm kiếm quan hệ mật thiết với phương Tây và gia nhập NATO.

Ngọc Sơn (theo Ria Novosti, Xinhua)

Bài viết liên quan

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Gruzia bác tin tấn công binh sĩ Nga

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Nguồn: viencanh.com Nga không từ bỏ căn cứ ở ở Ukraina

13th International Bike Show in Sevastopol dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the city’s liberation from Nazi troops.

Lorenzo Lamas Visits A Friend With Daughters In Tow

How To Use A Pilates Exercise Program To Improve Your Body Shape

(From Chapter 6, “Mein Krampf” by S.I. Fishgal, http://stores.lulu.com/fishgal)

“Not every Jew came to Russia from Western Europe. Some did to the ancient Greek colonies on the North coast of the Black Sea. Later Romans and their Jewish slaves took over, moved farther north, and saw no Russians yet. Scythians – the masters of the land – ate and drunk from their enemies’ sculls. Those who failed to kill had no tableware and died off therefore from starvation and a bad spirit. Millenniums and Scythians passed, but the cities of Kherson, Sevastopol and Simpheropol still bear the Greek names. Thus, Jews have diluted the Russian blood too.”
“Really?”
“The Jewish settlements existed on Dnepr River’s banks, in the east and south of Ukraine and in the Crimea during the Khazar kingdom (7-13 centuries) and preceded the formation of the Slavic nation. My maternal ancestors could be from those branches.”
“Did you learn that from the history teacher?”
“Didn’t you hear about the Great Soviet Encyclopedia? In 1768, Catherine II got the Crimea and Black Sea shore from Turkey, along with her Jews therefore and even encouraged the settlement of additional Jews from Western Europe in those lands for the development, in spite of the hostile public opinion. Probably, that’s why I got my Germanic surname.”
“What did you say, Karpfengal? The Jews came with Greeks to Russia thousands of years before Russians? The Crimea should belong to the Jews?”
“You said the terrible things. I did not. I cited only the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. You did say the Crimea should belong to the Jews. The young pioneers’ duty is to inform the authorities of your views.”

(From Chapters 21 and 22, “Kosher Hooks” by S.I. Fishgal, http://stores.lulu.com/fishgal)

“Not every Jew came to Russia from Western Europe. Some did to the ancient Greek colonies on the North coast of the Black Sea. Later Romans and their Jewish slaves took over, moved farther north, and saw no Russians yet. Scythians – the masters of the land – ate and drunk from their enemies’ sculls. Those who failed to kill had no tableware and died off therefore from starvation and a bad spirit. Millenniums and Scythians passed, but the Soviet cities of Kherson, Sevastopol and Simpheropol still bear the Greek names. Thus, Jews have diluted the Russian blood too.”
“Really?”
“The Jewish settlements existed on Dnepr River’s banks and in the east and south of Ukraine and the Crimea during the Khazar kingdom (7-13 centuries) and preceded the formation of the Slavic nation. My maternal ancestors could be from those branches.”
“Did you learn that from the history teacher?”
“Didn’t you hear about the Great Soviet Encyclopedia? In 1768, Catherine II got the Crimea and Black Sea shore from Turkey, along with the Jews therefore and even encouraged the settlement of additional Jews in those lands. In addition, she invited the West European Jews for trading purposes, in spite of the hostile public opinion. Probably, that’s why I got my Germanic surname.”
“What did you say, Karpfengal? The Jews came with Greeks to Russia thousands of years before Russians?
…not only the Crimean Jews came there before Russians. So did the Caucasus Jews even earlier. The problem was that in the 19th century, Georgians could not resist Russian invaders and chose the Jews (the weak outsiders) as the xenophobia object. Then the Georgians inherited the Russian anti-Semitism too, accused Jews of the ritual killing of a Christian child to use his blood for preparing matzoth, made pogroms and systematically extorted money. After the revolution, the Caucasus became independent at first, and more than a million Jews fled to Palestine and Turkey.
Of course, the ritual killing accusation was the old tradition. Roman pagans were the first to accuse the adherents of a different faith, i.e., the Christians, in killing children to drink their blood and eat their hearts. When Christianity became the major religion, the Christians accused the Jews in the same crime.
In the west, Jews set up only in the 12th century and absorbed their cousins who fled from massacres in Germany and Bohemia. Then Ukraine’s Cossack authorities favored the Jews for the promotion of the region’s trade.
The Polish nobility drew the Jews to play a dynamic role in the industry, commerce and craft. They administered the estates of the Polish nobility, officials, clergy and army garrisons. To the Ukrainian peasants enslaved by Poland and to rebellious Cossacks, the Jews appeared as both prosperous infidels and alien emissaries. In times of rebellions and wars, that hatred and jealousy resulted in horrifying massacres.
Bogdan Chmielnicki, whose monument and square Kiev’s downtown has, was the Ukrainian national hero responsible for the unprecedented slaughter of a hundred thousand Jews and for destroying all their communities in 1648-49. That national icon became less of a hero with the growth of the Ukrainian separatism. After all, he asked Russia to colonize Ukraine.
In the 18th century, Ukrainian Haidamaks, admired as national heroes, also slaughtered and gave rise to a popular tradition of hating the Jews. The folk songs, literature (T. Shevchenko and N. Gogol), historiography and political thought expressed that.
The laws prohibited the Jews to work on the land and in state industries, to use the civil and social service, to live in villages and restricted the limits of their residence to small towns and certain places. Because of pogroms, restraining decrees, and administrative pressure, two million Jews emigrated from the imperial Russia.
The Soviet regime did little to eradicate the hostility against the Jews. During World War II, Ukrainians wholeheartedly collaborated with the Nazis in exterminating the Jews in the occupied territories. Local anti-Semites (especially in the Baltic countries) initiated pogroms of their own accord. Ukrainian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Crimean Tartar police units annihilated the Jews with the Nazis’ efficiency.
The Germans needed the local accomplices’ cooperation in slaughtering the Jews and distributed Jewish houses and property among gentile neighbors. In Ukraine the number of Nazi collaborators, led by Ukrainian nationalists, was particularly large. On the other hand, the Byelorussian and Russian population in the Nazi-occupied areas hated the Germans, opposed to the mass murder of and even tried to save Jews now and then.
…In Tsarist Russia, defending their step-motherland was the Jews’ only right and obligation. Yet, no Jew, even the converted one, might become the Army’s officer.
Simplemindedly, Jews assumed their participation in Russia’s defense would abolish the second-class status. The mobilized 650,000 and 70,000 killed Jews during the WW1 did not change the situation. What is more, the government declared Yiddish as an illegal language, shipped the wounded veterans immediately back to the Pale of Settlement and branded them as cowards, traitors and spies.
The battle lines passed through the Pale controlled by anti-Semitic generals. They expediently blamed the Jews for the defeat and accused them of treason and spying for the Germans. Grand Duke Sergey, the Russian Commander-in-Chief, had over half million Jews forcibly evacuated, sometimes on forced marches. Above 100,000 Jews died of starvation, disease and frost exposure. The attacks on the Jews aroused public opinion in Europe and America against the tsarist government. When they could get no loans, they abolished the severe restrictions and the Jews streamed into Russia’s interior.
Ironically, the WW1’s German advance prevented the Jews’ expulsions and death. That became the reason why Roma’s parental grandmother and uncle did not believe the Soviet propaganda in 1941, were not afraid of the Germans, did not leave Kiev and unknowingly marched with the whole families to the Babi Yar slaughter.
Most German and Austrian Jews did escape before the flight became impossible after August 1939. The rest European Jews did not because prior to the war the Nazis did not threaten them and surprisingly few wished to leave.

I would like to write a life – story about my grandfather. He was 44 when he died, I think his life was intensive and it would be enough for two or even more people, but let’s start from the beginning.

My grandfather’s name is Kazhigali, he was born in 1919, in the village Sholay near Kokchetav. He lived in a very difficult time, it was a time of hunger “golodomor”. His parents died when he was only 7 years old and he began to live with his sister. But after a couple of years his sister hadn’t enough money and food for feeding him and boy went to the orphan house.

Kazhigali began to work very early, when he was 13 he worked in printing office, later he worked in Kokchetav district – committee of Komsomol. In 1939 he graduated a Pedagogical college of Kokchetav. In the same year he applied to the military – artillery college in Leningrad and Zenith Military College in Sevostopol, and chose the last one, after two years of study, he graduated in 1941. After graduation, he worked in Moscow like a military – guard during four months and then he started to work in c. Kushka, the Republic of Turkmenistan.

As you know in that period of time began a war and my grandfather was enlisted in Zenith – Military army of the South front as a lieutenant. He was at war from the first days till to the end. I really don’t know about his experience of the war, of course I read his diary, but he never wrote about the horror of that war. I can only summarize results of the war for himself. Kazhigali was wounded four times, he received a lot orders and medals, among them: two orders of patriotic war 1, 2 degree; two orders of red star; medals for liberation Vena, Praga, Budapest and others and of course he had a new rank – Captain.

Kazhigali came back home in 1946. Starting from 1947 he worked in Committee of the State Security in Kokchetav. In this period of his life he met my grandmother – Damela. She was very young girl, she only just graduated from university and worked in the school as a teacher of the history. They married in 1949 and had three children, but that was later.

After their wedding, Kazhigali had an opportunity to study in the Moscow School of Committee of the State Security, of course he used this chance and during the next 5 years he was in the school. In 1955 he graduated school and had a lieutenant colonel rank. After his graduation from 1955 till 1960 he worked in the Ministry of the State Security like a chief of two departments. But starting from 1960 he was ill because of his war’s wounds and after 4 years he died.

My grandfather died many years before I was born, and it’s very pity that I haven’t even seen him. I know about him only from my grandmother’s words she says he was very kind, clever and brave man and I believe her.

Close at bay: the Nikolay Filchenkov large landing ship in the Sevastopol harbour

Sevastopol, 19 September: The Russian Black Sea Fleet landing ship has illegally brought a shipment of cruise missiles from Russia to Ukraine, the Flot 2017 web site reported on 1756 gmt 18 Sep 09. The ship, the Nikolay Filchenkov, transported several dozen containers of the P15M “Termit” cruise missiles (known as SS-N-2 Styx) from the Russian port of Novorossiysk to the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol, the site said. The site believes that the missiles will be used to re-equip Russian Black Sea Fleet ships, stationed in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. The weapons upgrade could become just another step in Russia’s preparation for the possible Russian-Ukrainian military conflict over Crimea.

Ready for action: SS-N-2 Styx /Termit cruise missiles loaded onto a ship

The missiles are brought in breach of the current ban on modernizing weapons on Russian ships which are stationed in Ukraine under the 28 May 1997 Russian-Ukrainian treaty on temporary deployment of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. The Russian government leases Ukrainian military facilities in Crimea until 2017 as a payment for gas debts. The facilities which include the major naval base in Sevastopol and several airfields and firing ranges in eastern Crimea house Russian Black Sea Fleet ships and military units.

The ship has been cruising around the Sevastopol harbour for a week now, looking for the right moment to unload its explosive cargo, the web site said.

The Nikolay Filchenkov has been already involved in illegal deployment of Russian marines in Ukraine. On 23 March 2005, the ship brought 142 marines and 28 armoured vehicles of the 382nd detached battalion of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from their base in Temryuk (Russia’s Krasnodar Territory) to the Ukrainian firing range of Opuk (located between Kerch and Feodosiya in eastern Crimea) without asking Ukraine’s permission. After the Ukrainian government raised the alarm, the ship stopped the military operation and returned to Russia together with its cargo.

Pictures source: Wikipedia

June 24, 2009

Larissa Levine, Caitlin McNeil, and Elizabeth Saam

With President Obama’s upcoming trip to Russia, questions surrounding the United States’ arms treaty (START)with Russia, due to expire at the end of the year, have become a hot topic in Washington. On June 24, 2009 the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing “The July Summit and Beyond: Prospects for U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Reductions” to address these issues. Witnesses the Honorable William J. Perry, the Honorable Thomas Graham, Jr., and Dr. Keith B. Payne presented their opinions on the issue and then responded to questions by House members.

START, signed in 1991, placed limitations on the deployment of nuclear missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as allowing for continuous inspection and verification between the nations. However, both countries have been accused of violating the treaty, leading to questions concerning future dependability.

The Obama administration has declared intentions of ultimately reaching a global nuclear zero, but those at the hearing questioned the feasibility of this goal. However, they did agree that the renegotiation is a small step in the right direction. They emphasized that rapid movement toward nuclear zero could lead to further proliferation by those states threatened by shrinking nuclear protection from America, such as Japan. Furthermore, other nations, including North Korea and India, may be influenced to increase their own global power by taking advantage of America and Russia’s reduction. Finally, the witnesses emphasized that nuclear zero will be impossible, as long as nuclear possession is considered necessary by any country for its security and/or power.

The witnesses discussed Russian and U.S. strategies and intentions regarding the current negotiations, which began in May of this year. They agreed that Russia’s interests are rooted in both pride and a desire for parity with the United States. While neither nation can boast of arms strength equal to Cold War levels, each nation still holds a majority of the nuclear power existing today. Together, the United States and Russia hold 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons. That being said, a significant portion of Russian Cold War systems will soon be out of service due to age. Dr. Payne emphasized that one of Russia’s main goals is to ensure that both countries are on the same level militarily, especially in terms of submarine missiles and inter-continental ballistic missiles.

The panel suggested that the United States initially should not seek to make any further reductions at this point in the renegotiation. Instead, they suggested the United States prepare to explore the possibilities for the future of arms reductions. Further, they agreed that the United States should discuss reductions in tactical missiles.  This strategy, however, is not desirable for Russia, since Russia has an advantage over the United States in this regard.

Both the panel and the Representatives recognize that the Russo-American relationship is one of the single most important international relationships for the United States. Since Nato is an organization that was originally created to balance the Soviet Union’s power, the panel agreed that further Nato expansion would only antagonize Russia today. Another round of expansion would not make geo-political sense, and to include Ukraine would place the Russian navy base in Sevastopol, Ukraine under the influence of Nato. Such expansion, noted Congressman Rohrbacher, has resulted in a state of “renewed belligerence” between the United States and Russia. Ambassador Graham emphasized that while “the American people have a great interest in the well-being of the Ukrainian people,” relations with Russia should not be compromised for the sake of admitting them into Nato.

The close of the hearing emphasized the importance of people-to-people relationships that occur outside of the current public policy negotiations. The representatives present acknowledge that relations between the United States and Russia can be developed through programs that bring average people together. The United States has already sponsored widely successful programs to promote this cause in both the farming and medicine.
While the panelists did not reach a consensus on the path to nuclear zero, all present believed that these U.S.-Russian negotiations are a step in the right direction.

Full statements for Chairman Berman and the witness panel may be found here.

In attendance: Representatives Berman, Ros-Lehtinen, Rohrbacher, Lee, Smith, Woolsey, Inglis, Scott, Delahunt, Fortenberry, Poe and Watson