Russia's 'invasion and occupation' of Ukrainian territory.

[Monseratto]

The "under duress" autonomous Crimean Parliament has sent a request to join the Russian Federation, If approved by Putin, a referendum will be held on March 16. The interim Ukranian goverment composed of ultra-nationalist declares it unconstitutional since it would require a vote by the whole Ukranian population. The western powers back the ukranian position...

BBC News - Ukraine crisis: 'Illegal' Crimean referendum condemned

Ukraine crisis: 'Illegal' Crimean referendum condemned

The EU and US have joined Ukraine's government in condemning as "illegal" a move by the Crimea region to set up a referendum to endorse joining Russia.

The EU, meeting in Brussels, threatened "serious consequences" if Russia did not act to de-escalate the crisis.

Crimean MPs earlier set a date of 16 March for a vote on the referendum.

Russian troops took de facto control of Crimea, whose population is mostly ethnic Russian, in the wake of the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president.

The EU and US have joined Ukraine's government in condemning as "illegal" a move by the Crimea region to set up a referendum to endorse joining Russia.

The EU, meeting in Brussels, threatened "serious consequences" if Russia did not act to de-escalate the crisis.

Crimean MPs earlier set a date of 16 March for a vote on the referendum.

Russian troops took de facto control of Crimea, whose population is mostly ethnic Russian, in the wake of the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president.

The Crimean parliament on Thursday said it had decided "to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation".

It said it had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin "to start the procedure".

'Highly precarious'
Before the Brussels summit, some EU members - led by Germany - had indicated they preferred mediation with Russia to try to solve the crisis, rather than any stronger measures.

But correspondents say the Crimean MPs' move has clearly toughened the line taken by the EU.

In press conferences after the talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy both said the Crimean referendum was contrary to the Ukrainian constitution and therefore illegal.

The EU said it was suspending talks with Moscow on easing travel restrictions on Russians entering the EU.

It said that if Russia did not move to de-escalate the situation quickly, it would "decide on additional measures, such as travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit".

[safeorigin]

Looks like Ukraine will immediately turn into a Greek disaster

Shock and payment
The Government has prepared an action plan quick fix budget problems

Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak announced unpopular but necessary in the current situation the government's decision
Photo: Kirill Chubotin / Kommersant

The Ministry of Finance has prepared a plan to optimize budget expenditures on the basis of which the end of March to be held sequestration budget. For this purpose, inter alia, to reduce capital costs, eliminate tax schemes and incentives and cut social benefits, such as 50% of pensions for working pensioners. Experts doubt that the government will be able to make changes in all directions - to better identify three to five key objectives and implement them.

At the disposal of "b" was a project action plan for the implementation of the program of activities of the Cabinet. document was prepared as soon as possible: the strategy of the government was approved by parliament on 27 February and 3 March the Finance Ministry has already sent a plan of action for approval to the Ministry of Economic Development. Document is striking in its scale - 46 pages written seven global goals to achieve some of these officials will have to do 50-70 jobs before the end of May.

The plan combines the idea of ​​budget sequestration, to be held in late March - before the government promised to reduce the cost of 65-80 billion USD. Already yesterday, Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak said the adoption of government regulations on the use of saving money and local budgets. Document introduced a special regime for local authorities - the capital and "any other expenses" will not be funded until the debt will be repaid on energy and salaries. The debt he did not name. "I would ask you to refrain from opening provision for capital expenditure until the end of March - Minister appealed to the heads of regional administrations. - In late 2013-early 2014, 77% of which used the local budgets were used to finance the costs low priority."

Until March 31, local authorities charged with finding an opportunity to increase their revenues by 2% and reduce costs by 1%. According to an expert on the budget of the Association of Ukrainian Cities Slobozhan Alexander, a half year capital expenditure and so practically financed and in January-February, local governments have not received a penny. "Eighteen months the State Treasury is blocking our money. We earn, we want to settle with the contractors, but the money comes only by the courts. At year-end was blocked for more than 6 billion USD, - he said. - We did not make any payment obligation in such costs as it makes no sense, and some debts even in 2012. regions in these debts were made to accounts payable, it is more than 14 billion USD. " Therefore, says Mr. Slobozhan, has nothing to reduce.

But the opportunities to increase the incomes of local budgets regions have, and they will enhance revenues are 2% and 13% (15 billion USD). "Why waste time and again to wait until March 31, when all the bills on income and so are in the Ministry of Finance?" - Said the expert. In particular, we are talking about the return of market fee, the fee for advertising instead of the current payment for advertising. Besides it is necessary to apply the estate tax for all taxpayers and for all categories of real estate. In addition, the Association of Cities asked to change the principle of charging for parking, which works only in Kiev and several cities, and is obliged to pay land tax those who use the land forms of municipal and state property without legal documents for her.

Action plan is traditional for Ukrainian government aims to combat conversion centers and tax pits legalization of shadow turnover of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. It is on the audit of "Ukrspirt" cease and implementation schemes without alcohol taxation. From program to program also migrate Cabinet promises to return capital that are in Cyprus and offshore jurisdictions. But now the government has pledged to address the competent foreign authorities requesting arrest money derived from the Ukraine without taxation. "Makes a statement that will return funds from offshore, but how many are there left who and where is unknown, - says Director of the Center" CASE-Ukraine "Dmitry Boyarchuk. - If you want to close the circuit, then it is quite possible, because all of authorities know where to go to close them. And I would concentrate on schemes because, for example, the gasoline market has been seen that laundered huge money. "

The government is going to raise the excise tax, although the latter indexing them took place in January. This, according to Dmitry Boyarchuk only provoke another increase of the shadow market of excisable goods. Economist of the National Institute for Strategic Studies Alex Moldovan offers an alternative - an increase in the VAT rate on luxury items. The ministry also consider it necessary to analyze the tax benefits for their effectiveness. It is clear that preferences will be canceled for the business in the fields of information technology and publishing. Ex-Minister of Revenue and Duties Alexander Klimenko said inventory tax exemptions, but a bill to abolish preferences and was not prepared. According to Mr. Moldovan, abolish benefits is not necessary, since their validity expires in two years. But it is necessary to cancel the support priority sectors of the economy, since the issuance of preferences is possible only in "manual" mode, the expert said.

"Under the Knife" will and social spending. Already in March, may restrict the payment of pensions to working pensioners - they will only receive 50% of the designated pension payments, but not less than the minimum old-age pension. According to a leading researcher of the Institute of Demography and Social Studies Lydia Tkachenko, it is fraught with layoffs pensioners. "There are pensioners who receive a decent pension, such as scientists, they are unlikely to sacrifice pension. And there are those who work there, where young people do not want - nurses, teachers, - she says. - Experience of the Baltic countries showed that only month resigned 40% of retirees, but it is true, generally abolished retirement. "

One-time payment in the amount of 10 minimum wages and housing young professionals who agreed to work in the countryside, also planned to cancel. Along with this government, like the previous one, wants to reduce the burden of payroll and introduce liability for employers in informal employment. Mindohodov proposed reduction of unified social contribution (ERU) by half - to 18%. "It would be possible to prescribe a phased reduction. And if after liberalization will have no effect, then impose sanctions," - said Mr. Boyarchuk. To reduce the deficit of the Pension Fund in the proposed fee structure ERUs for temporary disability reduced by 0.4 percentage points, while the unemployment - by 0.9 percentage points This will increase the contribution to the pension contributions by 1.3 percentage points "It's certainly good for the Pension Fund, but it is a trifle, but for the unemployment fund cancel almost 1% may be serious", - says Ms. Tkachenko. It focuses on the fact that the document contains no hint of the revision of social benefits with a focus on targeting.

According to her, the shock therapy could be a revision of the amount of support unprofitable coal mines. In terms of this idea is present in part - financing of mines will take into account the requirements of the WTO. In 2012, subsidies amounted to 14.6 billion USD. Experts say the government is repeating the mistakes of the previous government, focusing too detailed development strategies. "And under President Yanukovych wrote the program on pages 50-60. Then adopted a strategy of debt management, but it almost brought the country to default," - says Alex Moldovan. He is convinced that it is necessary to focus on realistic goals, which should be three to five. "All the old ideas, the question in their performance, but it turns out deja vu 2005, high expectations for all - adds Dmitry Boyarchuk. - Otherwise, they wallow in the reforms, and people remain unhappy."

Ú.Óêðàèíà-Ãàçåòà - Øîê è ðàñ÷åò

[donbuggy]

Sarah Palin Was Right About Ukraine? - Forbes

Michael Peck, Contributor
3/03/2014 * 10:55PM

Sarah Palin may not have been able to see Russia from her house, but she might have been right about Russia invading Ukraine.

“After the Russian Army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama’s reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence, the kind of response that would only encourage Russia’s Putin to invade Ukraine next,” Palin claimed in 2008, during her vice-presidential bid alongside John McCain.

Palin, already mocked for claiming that she could see Russia from Alaska, was criticized for her Ukraine prediction. Among the critics was Foreign Policy Magazine, which described her forecast as “strange” and an “an extremely far-fetched scenario.”

Palin hasn’t exactly tried to hide her glee. “Yes, I could see this one from Alaska,” she crowed on her Facebook page. “I’m usually not one to Told-Ya-So, but I did, despite my accurate prediction being derided as ‘an extremely far-fetched scenario’ by the ‘high-brow’ Foreign Policy magazine. Here’s what this ‘stupid’ ‘insipid woman’ predicted back in 2008.”

Foreign Policy Magazine (whom I also write for) was gracious enough to offer a sort of mea culpa. “So we have to hand it to her: Six years after the publication of a 156-word blog post, points to Palin. Sort of.”

[safeorigin]

So, there are now the folks seated in Ukraine... what could possibly go wrong?

Ihor Yosypovych Tenyukh - defense minister
Andriy Volodymyrovych Parubiy - national security chief
Dmytro Yarosh - national security deputy
Oleh Ihorevych Mahnitskyy - prosecutor general
Oleksandr Maksymovych Sych - deputy prime minister
Serhiy Myronovych Kvit - minister of education
Andriy Moknyk - minister of ecology
Ihor Oleksandrovych Shvaika - minister of agrarian policy and food

[donbuggy]

World's oldest pyramid found in Crimea - Crimean News Agency
31 August 2012

SIMFEROPIL/ AQMESCIT (QHA) - A Ukrainian scientist discovered the oldest pyramid in the world. Most interestingly, it was found in the most beautiful corner of the country, in Crimea.

As the ICTV channel reported, the finding was revealed by accident, when during his test alternative methods of finding water Ukrainian scientist Vitalii Goh discovered underground unknown object, which proved to be a giant pyramid of 45 meters in height and a length of about 72 meters. Goh said that the pyramid was built during the time of the dinosaurs.

“Crimean pyramid” has a truncated top, like a Mayan pyramid, but its appearance is more like an Egyptian. It is hollow inside, and a mummy of unknown creature is buried under the foundation.

“Under the foundation is a small body in the form of a mummy long 1.3-1.4 meters with a crown on his head.”

“There is a resonance chamber of so-called Sphinx. The pyramids were built in the era of the dinosaurs,” says the scientist in an interview with ICTV.

It remains unknown who build the pyramid.

The unique building is the oldest on the planet, says Vitalii Goh.

Aliye Bekir
QHA

OB's revelation about pyramids:

before, most civilizations had pyramids as source of power/energy. that explains the existence of old pyramids in south America, Africa, Asia.

Is this the real reason behind Russia's military intervention in Ukraine?

[CVT]

"The Ukraine girls really knock me out,
They leave the West behind....". 😃

[donbuggy]

^Back in the U.S.S.R. by the Beatles.

[cardict]

"The Ukraine girls really knock me out,
They leave the West behind....". 😃

But Georgia is on my mind

[Ry_Tower]

From russia with love!

[safeorigin]

Looks like Ukraine dug itself into deep sh!t

Soviet TU-95 Bomber Aircraft For Sale on eBay

By Tom Porter March 8, 2014 15:09 PM

TU-95MS currently being auctioned.
TU-95MS awaiting new owner

A Soviet-era bomber aircraft "in very good condition" has been put up for sale on the internet auction site eBay, with a starting price of only $3m (£1.8m).

The Tupolev TU-95MS has flown for just over 454 hours of the 5,000 hours it is capable of, according to the posting, and bears the insignia of both the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian air force.

Also known as the Bear H, the plane requires a routine technical check before it can once again become airborne.

The plane already had one bidder, with five days of the auction remaining, when it was mysteriously withdrawn from sale.

After entering service with the Soviet air force in 1956, the TU-95 became known as one of the noisiest aircrafts in the world, with the roar of its propellers reportedly detectable by the hydrophones of submerged submarines.

Soviet TU-95 Bomber Aircraft For Sale on eBay