OSCE: That’s like Giving the Bank Robber the Key to the Vault

It was too astonishing to believe! Many anecdotes can illustrate this ludicrous gambit but the one about giving the bank robber the key to the vault is appropriate.

Apparently, some bureaucrat at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, formed in the mid-1970s to cool Cold War rhetoric and tie russia to human rights obligations, decided it would be appropriate to invite a representative of the evil empire to attend that 30^th Ministerial Meeting, which will be held in Macedonia November 30-December 1.

The countries that most visibly benefited from this historic agreement were astounded and loudly protested this ludicrous idea.

Three Baltic countries and Ukraine, former captive nations of russian subjugation said they won’t attend a meeting of the European security body OSCE after it invited russian foreign minister sergei lavrov to participate.

Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia said in a joint statement earlier this week they will shun the gathering of the 57-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. “It will only provide russia with yet another propaganda opportunity,” the countries’ foreign ministers said ahead of the meeting due in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday and Friday. Ukraine also announced it won’t take part.

According to an interview with Bloomberg, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said earlier that the OSCE risks becoming “brain dead” as US and European allies bend to russia’s will by negotiating with Moscow over top jobs and which country will chair the organization. The body has offered Malta to take over as chair in a compromise after Moscow pushed back against Estonia, he said.

“We’re dancing to a fiddle that’s being played by Russians and I don’t agree with that,” Landsbergis said. “If there is an organization that could be called actually brain dead, we will very much have a chance to see the OSCE becoming this.”

A historic flashback. When then soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev agreed to Western countries’ requests for the inclusion of human rights provisions into what has become known as the Helsinki Accords, little did he realize how much trouble that would later cause for him. Up until then, human, religious, and national rights advocates in the Soviet Union based their demands on the United Nations Charter, the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the Soviet Constitution. The signing of the Helsinki Accords on August 1, 1975, produced a modern document, in which 35 countries, including the Soviet Union, reaffirmed their commitments to human rights. Incorporated into this new treaty were principles of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and national self-determination, among others.

Dissidents, human and national rights activists in the Evil Empire saw this document as an opportunity to present proof of repression of soviet russian authorities rather than a sell out to the kremlin.

This latest recommitment to human rights then became a bible of dissidents in the Soviet Union and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. While not altogether abandoning references to U.N. treaties or the Soviet Constitution, in which human rights activists in the USSR have lost faith, dissidents behind the Iron Curtain began to use the Helsinki Accords as the basis of their conduct. The first meeting to review compliance with the Helsinki Accords was set for late 1977 and early 1978.

That preceding spring and summer delegates from the 35 countries had already begun to assemble to discuss the ground rules for reports and discussions later that year. Signatory governments were preparing lists of their countries' implementations of the Helsinki Accords and complaints against other states, which, they claimed, did not live up to the Accords. Besides governments, individual citizens and organizations also were busy collecting documented material on their government's violations of the human rights provisions of the Accords. With the possibility of publicly airing violations of basic rights at the CSCE talks, human rights advocates in the Soviet Union took advantage of this and formed what has become known as Helsinki monitoring groups. They hoped that the material they collected would be presented at the CSCE or would at least be made public around the world.

In late 1976 and early 1977, five public groups to promote the implementation of the Helsinki Accords were formed in five republics of the Soviet Union — Moscow, Russia; Kyiv, Ukraine; Tbilisi, Georgia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and in Armenia. Each public group earnestly began collecting documentation on the Kremlin's violations of the Helsinki Accords and established contacts with the West to relay their information to the free world. This, they hoped, would bring public pressure to bear down on the Soviet government, which would force it to cease denying its citizens their rights. Each group was and continues to be interested in human rights generally, but individually their objectives differed. The Moscow group, for instance, focused on civil and religious rights. The Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Georgian and Armenian groups also sought civil and religious rights, but they but they also advocated the implementation of the principle of national self-determination.

The document that has been studying russian violations of a broad range of rights is now on the verge of being corrupted by the presence of a high-level russian delegation, which has never changed its criminal approach to governance.

And now, in the joint statement, the Baltic nations said lavrov’s attendance at the meeting “risks legitimizing aggressor russia as a rightful member of our community of free nations, trivializing the atrocious crimes russia has been committing, and putting up with russia’s blatant violation and contempt of the OSCE.”

Ukraine said it will skip the session because russia “systemically” blocks consensus on key issues and turned the organization into “a hostage of its whims and aggression,” according to a statement from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Separately, Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, wrote in a statement on Facebook that the Ukrainian delegation would not take part in the meeting.

Nikolenko said Russia had abused the rules of consensus in the organization, resorted to “blackmail and open threats” and had also been holding three Ukrainian OSCE representatives in prison for 500 days.

“In such conditions, the presence of a Russian delegation … at minister-level for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine will only deepen the crisis into which Russia has driven the OSCE,” Nikolenko said.

“For the past two years we have witnessed how one OSCE participating state has actively and brutally tried to annihilate another,” the Baltic foreign ministers said in their statement. “Let us be very clear: russia’s war of aggression and atrocities against its sovereign and peaceful neighbor Ukraine blatantly violate international law.”

They also accused russia of “obstructive behavior within the OSCE itself,” citing russia’s prevention of an OSCE presence in Ukraine and the blocking of Estonia’s chairmanship of the organization in 2024. They also accused russia of “obstructive behavior within the OSCE itself,” citing russia’s prevention of an OSCE presence in Ukraine and the blocking of Estonia’s chairmanship of the organization in 2024. lavrov’s attendance at the Skopje meeting “risks legitimizing aggressor russia as a rightful member of our community of free nations, trivializing the atrocious crimes russia has been committing,” they added.

Speaking to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels, North Macedonia’s foreign minister, Bujar Osmani, said he believed that he would be meeting Lavrov in Skopje. “Lavrov is not coming to Skopje, in a way. Lavrov is coming to the OSCE just as he went to (the) U.N. in New York a few months ago,” Osmani said. “I won’t be meeting him as the foreign minister of North Macedonia, but as the OSCE chairman in office.”

643 days of the latest russian war against Ukraine, at least, have demonstrated that russia doesn’t belong not only in the OCSE but also the United Nations. Self-respecting national leaders should not extend their hand to the kremlin’s killers and rapists.

If the murderous hoodlums from moscow are granted access to the 30th Session of the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe, then we might as well turn out the lights and close the door behind us. Its useful contributions to the global community are history.

Yes, Virginia; Yes, Liuda, Believe in Santa

T’is the season … so when I read stories about naughty or nice kids writing to Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Kris Kringel or Sviatyi Mykolay, I think about Virginia and other boys and girls who hope and pray for extraordinary gifts.

You remember the factual Christmas story of eight-year-old Virginia who was caught in a quandary about whether or not Santa Claus exists. So, what did the youngster do? She did what any other young American girl would do. She wrote to the editor of her local newspaper for confirmation.

She informed the editor that her playmates have confused her by telling her that he doesn’t exist. However, the wise editor set her straight.

Francis P. Church, an editor of The Sun, wrote an answer to Virginia that was printed in the newspaper on September 21, 1897.

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance, to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished,” Church elaborated. “Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.”

“No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”

I was inspired to write about this by a kindred spirit who posted on LinkedIn a Ukrainian child’s letter to Sviatyi Mykolay, requesting an extraordinary gift. Her name is Liuda who is also eight years old. She doesn’t live in New York City but rather in a war-ravaged region of Ukraine. Evidently all children around the world live by hope; hope for gifts and for a better tomorrow. This hope is heightened in youngsters in war-torn countries.

Liuda tells Mykolay that she has been a good girl, she helps her mother, she loves to draw and sing.

“Please grant me a new school because the rashists burned down my school. If this can’t be done then please give the children of soldiers a lot of tasty treats,” Liuba innocently implores the heavenly bringer of gifts, concluding “I offer you a talisman against evil.”

Her letter features a picture of her school with the blue and yellow flag on the roof and a joyfully illustrated bomb shelter.

Liuda, your childlike hope for a Mykolay is as sincere as Virginia’s and thank God for that! Your and all Ukrainian children’s belief in Mykolay are justified. Your belief in the beauty, joy, generosity, love, and devotion of Mykolay, as well as his protection of Ukrainian children will certainly help you and your classmates survive the rashists’ destruction of Ukraine and bloodshed of Ukrainians.

This honest conviction will not only assure that your school is rebuilt but that all of Ukraine is restored after the rashists are defeated and expelled.

Holodomor Remembrance by Biden

 In Holodomor Remembrance, Biden Likens Stalin’s Famine Murder of Ukrainians to Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine

Statement by President Biden in Remembrance of Holodomor issued on November 25, 2023.

We mark the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defend their freedom and Ukraine’s sovereignty against Russia’s brutal war of aggression.  Ninety years ago, the inhumane polices of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime created the “death by hunger.”  Millions of Ukrainians—men, women, and children—suffered and starved to death between 1932-1933 because of a manmade famine.  Stalin and his regime systematically seized Ukraine’s grain and farms and transferred Ukrainian grain to other parts of the USSR as a tactic to repress Ukraine’s national identity. 

Today, Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure is once more being deliberately targeted—this time by Vladimir Putin as part of his drive for conquest and power.  Russian forces seek to destroy Ukraine’s economy and independence, deliberately damaging fields and destroying Ukraine’s grain storage facilities and ports.  It is not just an attack on Ukraine’s economic security, it is a cynical assault on food security everywhere.  Putin is hurting the world’s most vulnerable communities, for Russia’s profit.

On this anniversary, we remember and honor all those, both past and present, who have endured such hardship and who continue still to fight against tyranny.  We also recommit ourselves to preventing suffering, protecting fundamental freedoms, and responding to human rights abuses whenever and wherever they occur.  We stand united with Ukraine.

German Think Tank Expects Russian War with NATO in 6 Years – if Ukraine Loses

Let’s examine what some on Capitol Hill are saying about refusing to provide Ukraine with a wide range of military equipment in its fateful, existential war with Russia. Yes, for the most part this disheartened group of legislators is composed of Republicans, descendants of the GOP that stood up in defense of the captive nations of russian aggression during the long reign of the Evil Empire.

Basically, this gaggle of lawmakers preaches that this first major war in Europe since the end of World War II is some 5,000 miles from the United States; it’s Ukraine’s war not America’s; it doesn’t affect America; we don’t want American soldiers fighting on the Ukrainian steppes; the war is already too costly; russia won’t expand the war beyond Ukraine’s borders; who cares; and so on and so forth.

On the other hand, the White House, NATO, the former captive nations and, of course, Ukraine, believe that Ukraine’s future is not only at stake. Ukraine is fighting russian aggression not only to defend its sovereignty and independence, but also the freedom of the western world. If Ukraine were to succumb to russian aggression again, the world would truly face Armageddon.

The German Council on Foreign Relation (GCFR), among others, believes that if Ukraine were to be defeated by moscow, its age-old, unquenched territorial ambitions would turn russia’s guns against NATO and the free world.

“With its imperial ambitions, russia represents the greatest and most ­urgent threat to NATO countries. Once intensive fighting will have ended in Ukraine, the regime in moscow may need as little as six to 10 years to reconstitute its armed forces. Within that timeframe, Germany and NATO must enable their armed forces to deter and, if necessary, fight against russia. Only then will they be in a position to reduce the risk of another war breaking out in Europe,” the council said in a recent analysis.

Actually, the council said that a Ukrainian defeat is not necessary for russian tanks to roll over Europe. It believes that even if the full-scale war it unleashed against Ukraine is frozen, moscow would have enough cause to launch a military campaign against NATO. The German think tank’s line of thinking substantiates the notion that russia regardless of the adjectives that define its socio-political governance has always been imperialistic, militaristic, and aggressive. These characteristics have been engrained into its national DNA.

“Russia has consistently shown its aggressive motivation over two decades. President Vladimir putin and kremlin elites and intelligentsia have long cherished the ambition to restore russia’s powerful empire and push back the influence of NATO and the EU. The historical categories in which they think are based on analogies with the tsarist empire and the ­soviet union. In their thinking, russia exists well beyond its current borders (a concept called ‘rusky mir’) – it extends to any place where russians have ever lived in or where the russian empire or the soviet union have ever ruled. Putin does not consider the borders established after the break-up of the soviet union to be binding. Countries belonging to NATO today include the Baltic States, which used to be part of russia and the soviet union,” the German study noted.

According to the analysis, it is moscow that determines the timing, combining long-held motivation with a military buildup, and the window for a possible invasion will open “as soon as russia believes that an attack, for instance on the Baltic states, could meet with success.”

The GCFR indicated “Putin’s ideology and interpretation of history ­already motivated the wars in Chechnya and Georgia. ­Russia’s constitution includes a provision to reintegrate ­belarus into the russian state; this is currently being implemented. In 2014, putin started the war in Ukraine. Despite having failed to achieve even one of its war goals to date, moscow has escalated the conflict into Europe’s largest war in 75 years.”

The experts pointed out that during its war against Ukraine, russia has put its arms industry on a war footing. The basis for calculating the period of time for NATO to prevent a possible war by strengthening its deterrence potential is the assumption that the kremlin will manage to freeze the war against Ukraine. Thus, moscow would have time to rebuild its ground forces.

“Any troops or systems that NATO countries deploy only a short time before russia’s reconstitution is achieved will not impact russia’s considerations,” the analysts wrote. “russia would underestimate NATO’s combat readiness and could be tempted to start a war.”

The analysts place the hope of the free world on Germany, which must deliver “a quantum leap” – “Within the shortest time ­possible, it must build up the Bundeswehr in terms of personnel, expand arms production, and improve resilience. This will only be possible if there is a change of mentality in society.”

The question for NATO and Germany no longer is whether they will ever need to be able to fight a war against another country, the report stated, but only when. In its new strategic concept, NATO describes russia as the greatest and most urgent threat to the security of its 31 allies and for peace and stability in the Euro-­Atlantic area. In contrast to earlier analyses, the ­alliance no longer rules out a Russian attack.

One redeeming option for the alliance would be to integrate Ukraine into the European Defense Sector.

“Europe should immediately begin to work with Ukraine to plan and implement the country’s long-term integration into Western defense and armaments. Ukraine is already part of the Western defense system. The announced membership in EU and NATO will further strengthen this connection. Given that the conflict with russia is likely to continue for decades, Ukraine’s location on the border to russia and ­belarus means that the country will continue to be of outstanding geostrategic importance to Europe’s security,” the council said.

The recalcitrant American lawmakers should study well the topic of russian imperialism and the russo-Ukraine War and understand that not only Ukraine’s fate but also the destinies of America and the free world hang in the balance of their faulty pro-russian policies.

Biden Administration Announces New Security Assistance for Ukraine

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today, December 20, additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration’s 51st tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021, according to the department’s website announcement. This package includes additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to help Ukraine defend its sovereign territory and fight for its freedom from Russia's ongoing war of aggression.
This package utilizes assistance previously authorized for Ukraine during prior fiscal years under Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) that remained after the PDA revaluation process.
The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $100 million, include:

● Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;

● One High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and additional ammunition;

● 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

● Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

● Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;

● More than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition;

● Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;

● Cold weather gear; and

● Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.

The DoD announcement also stated: “The United States remains committed to working with the coalition the United States has built of some 50 Allies and partners who are providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend itself now and deter Russian aggression well into the future. Our allies and partners have stepped up to provide approximately $36 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Under the leadership of the United States, this global coalition has enabled Ukraine's courageous forces to successfully defend Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, win critical battles that repelled Russian forces, and take back more than half of the territory seized by Russian invaders.

“Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security. It helps to prevent a larger conflict in the region and deter potential aggression elsewhere, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people in dozens of states across the country. It is critical that Congress take action to support Ukraine by passing the President's supplemental funding request.”

You Can’t Deal with a Dishonorable, Evil Country like russia

After more than 630 days of russia’s war against Ukraine, many around the world have become bored by moscow’s brutality and killings of innocent civilians. The war has even been downgraded by many news networks. People don’t understand it; they don’t want to comprehend it; it’s inconceivable. This group also includes U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Consequently, there are calls for talks, negotiations, settlements, or surrender regardless of the immorality of any submission to aggressor russia. Afterall, as Israel’s Gold Meir pointed out, you can’t negotiate with someone who wants to kill you: “To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don’t be.” 

To those who have missed at least previous 30 years, here is a shortlist of the results of negotiations with russia that it never respected compiled by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and posted on his social media pages:

1. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994. Russia agreed to “respect independence, sovereignty, and the existing borders of Ukraine” as well as “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.” Breached by Russia invading Crimea in 2014.

2. The Russian-Ukrainian Friendship Treaty of 1997. Russia agreed to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and “reaffirmed the inviolability of the borders” between the two countries. Russia breached it in 2014.

3. The OSCE Istanbul Summit in 1999. Russia committed to withdrawing its troops from Moldova’s Transdnistrian region and Georgia until the end of 2002. That never happened.

4. The 2008 Georgia ceasefire agreement following Russian aggression against the country. Russia agreed that “Russian military forces must withdraw to the lines prior to the start of hostilities.” That never happened.

5. The Ilovaysk “Green Corridor” in August 2014 and other “humanitarian” death corridors. Russia pledged to let Ukrainian forces leave the encircled town of Ilovaysk in the east of Ukraine, but instead opened fire and killed 366 Ukrainian troops. In the following years, Russia attacked numerous humanitarian corridors in Syria.

6. The “Minsk” agreements of 2014 and 2015. Russia agreed to cease the fire in the east of Ukraine. There had been 200 rounds of talks and 20 attempts to enforce a ceasefire, all of which the Russian side promptly violated. On February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

7. The 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia pledged to “provide maximum assurances regarding a safe and secure environment for all vessels engaged in this initiative.” It then hindered the initiative’s operation for months before withdrawing unilaterally a year later.

NB: Kuleba explained that he only focused on deals made with Russia to address specific issues and conflicts. He said he did not mention almost 400 international treaties that Russia has breached since 2014. There are no conclusions to be drawn here, Kuleba wrote, except that no one can seriously use the words “Russia” and “negotiations” in the same phrase. Putin is a habitual liar who promised international leaders that he would not attack Ukraine days before his invasion in February 2022.

Why would anyone genuinely believe that Russia in 2023 is any different from Russia in 1994, 1997, 1999, 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2022; or on November 2, 1708, when Russian troops under the command of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov captured and destroyed Ukrainian Hetman Mazepa’s capital of Baturyn, killing 9,000-15,000 civilians; or March 8-12, 1169, when prince Andrey Bogolyubsky of Vladimir-Suzdal, the precursor of russia sacked Kyiv a Ukrainian metropolis that in the 12^th century rivalled European capitals.

Russia’s tactics have remained consistent in its many wars since time immemorial: kill, grab, imprison, lie, and deny. Stand with Ukraine! Defeat russia!

Schumer at Holodomor Observance: Never Abandon Ukraine!

 

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine now as well as in the days of its subjugation, assured Ukrainian Americans gathered yesterday for the 90th Holodomor remembrance in New York City that he will never allow Ukraine to be abandoned by the United States.

“I pledge that as long as I am the majority leader in the US Senate, I will never allow America to abandon Ukraine,” promised Schumer, an annual speaker at these commemorative events.

The yearly remembrance of the murder by starvation of 7-10 million Ukrainian men, women, and children at the hands of russia is regularly organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America at the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Echoing the motto “Holodomor then; Genocide now; Justice when,” Schumer stated that nine decades ago Stalin failed in his twisted desire to annihilate Ukrainians by starving them to death while 90 years later russia invaded Ukraine to continue its diabolical plan to destroy the people and country.

“But just like stalin failed so too will putin fail,” Schumer said loudly to the crowd that filled the cathedral.

Schumer like other speakers at the observance equated crimes by Stalin and soviet russia with putin and contemporary russia. The kremlin’s mission is to erase everything Ukrainian from the face of the earth. Stalin weaponized food in 1932-33 just as putin is using food as a weapon today by sealing Ukraine’s grain ports.

Turning to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Schumer pointed out that Ukraine is not demanding that American soldiers fight their battles. All Ukrainians want, he said, are weapons so that they can keep russia from rebuilding its empire. He said America must give Ukraine everything it needs without any conditions on aid.

“Today Ukraine is fighting for Poland and Eastern Europe and it’s fighting for America as well,” he declared. “By supporting Ukraine, we are supporting freedom and democracy.”

The ecumenical Moleben and Requiem was concelebrated by the Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Greek-Catholic Church, Archbishop Antony, Archbishop Daniel Zelinsky and Archbishop Borys Gudziak, and clergy. Archbishop-Cardinal Timothy Dolan welcomed the attendees. The assemblage was also addressed by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ambassador Elisabeth Mallard, acting US representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, UCCA President Andrij Futey, and Michael Sawkiw, chairman of the US Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide Awareness and director of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS). The New York City “Dumka” chorus conducted by Vasyl Hrechynsky sang the religious responses.

The observance began with a procession from St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church on East Seventh Street and concluded with the attendees, led by Ukrainian diplomats, escorting a long blue and yellow banner from the cathedral's entrance to the altar.