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| Obama Announces Sanctions Against Russia - Voice of America Posted: 17 Mar 2014 09:09 AM PDT Announcing that the U.S. and its allies are mobilizing to isolate Russia, President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on key individuals Washington deems responsible for the current crisis in Ukraine following a Moscow-backed referendum in Crimea on the peninsula's secession from the country. Speaking at the White House, Obama announced that he ordered sanctions against 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials, including two top advisers to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in addition to ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. All will be subject to asset freezes. In an executive order issued earlier, Obama said that the policies and actions of the Russian Federation have been found to "undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of its assets, and thereby constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States." Watch the president's announcement: He said Washington stands ready to impose further sanctions if necessary, if Russia chooses to escalate the situation. Obama also pledged "unwavering" U.S. support for Ukraine, following Crimea's moves toward joining the Russian Federation. Obama said Vice President Joe Biden leaves for Europe later Monday to discuss the situation with NATO allies. The president himself is slated to to go Europe next week.EU measures Separately, European Union foreign ministers have agreed to impose sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on 21 officals from Russia and Ukraine, Lithuania's foreign minister said on Monday. After a meeting lasting around three hours, the EU's 28 foreign ministers quickly reached agreement on the list of those to be sanctioned for their part in Russia's seizure of Crimea and Sunday's referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The EU Foreign Affairs Council just agreed on sanctions – travel restrictions & assets freezes against 21 officials from Ukraine & Russia, Linan Linkevicius wrote in a message on Twitter. He added that more measures would follow in a few days, when EU leaders meet for a summit in Brussels. They are expected to expand the list to include more senior figures closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition to responses from the U.S. and the EU, NATO released a statement Monday calling the Crimea referendum "illegal and illegitimate." It said the vote violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law, and added that the circumstances under which the referendum was held were "deeply flawed and therefore unacceptable." Despite objections from the international community, a delegation of Crimean lawmakers is traveling to Moscow Monday to discuss additional procedures required to become part of the Russian Federation. There is broad speculation that President Putin will deliver a formal speech Tuesday on Crimea's annexation to Russia, Reuters quoted a U.S. official as saying. Secession vote Earlier Monday, Crimea's regional assembly declared independence from Ukraine and applied to become part of Russia, a day after a controversial referendum in Crimea overwhelmingly supported joining the Russian Federation. A delegation of Crimean lawmakers is set to travel to Moscow Monday to discuss additional procedures required to become part of the Federation. President Barack Obama told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Sunday that Washington and its "European partners are prepared to impose additional costs" on Moscow for backing the secession referendum in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. A White House statement called Sunday's referendum illegal and said it violates Ukraine's constitution. It also said the vote will "never be recognized by the United States and the international community." Ukraine's parliament endorsed on Monday a plan to mobilize 40,000 reservists to counter Russia's "blatant aggression" in Crimea. Some 20,000 of the country's national guard troops have also been mobilized. Also on Monday, Ukraine recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations. "In connection with the situation in Crimea and the necessity of discussing some of its international aspects, the Ukrainian side is recalling its ambassador to the Russian Federation, Volodymyr Yelchenko," the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv said. Russian Duma set to act Meanwhile, Russia's lower house of parliament will pass legislation allowing Ukraine's Crimea region to join Russia "in the very near future", Interfax news agency quoted the chamber's deputy speaker as saying on Monday. Russia rejected as biased on Monday an assessment by a United Nations official who questioned accusations that Ukraine's Russian-speaking population faced systematic human rights abuses. The Russian Foreign Ministry statement criticized U.N. Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic who said last week there had been violations against ethnic Russians in Ukraine but said there was no evidence they were "widespread or systematic." The biased, prejudiced and unobjective assessment of I. Simonovic on the human rights situation in the country calls forth surprise and confusion," said the ministry in a statement. Russia has effectively seized control of Ukraine's broadly Russian-speaking Crimea region. There are also large Russian-speaking populations in the east of the country. The statement also criticized Simonovic for a statement of concern over the state of human rights for ethnic Tatars in Crimea. Russia has been justifying its incursion into Crimea as necessary to protect the rights of ethnic Russians living on the peninsula. Reactions in Kyiv Thousands of Ukrainians gathered in central Kyiv Sunday to voice opposition to the referendum and what the perceive as Moscow's moves to divide the Ukraine. But the mood was somber as many Ukrainians feel helpless against Russia's might and military superiority, many fearing a further escalation of tensions. Irina, a restaurant manager who only gave her first name, said Crimea's fate likely was already decided in Moscow. She said none of this was right. This could have been done in a nice way, in an honest way, she said. This could have been done in a constitutionally correct way. And it seems to me, she said, everyone would have agreed to that. Moscow claims it is protecting ethnic Russians from persecution by Ukrainian "extremists" who it says illegitimately came to power after months of anti-government protests. Another Kyiv resident, Ira, who also only gave her first name, said she had nothing against Russians. She said she loves and respects the Russian people as much as Ukrainians, but not their government. She expressed hope that everything ends well, everyone becomes united, and that Crimea remains with Ukraine. VOA's Daniel Schearf contributed to this report from Kyiv. Some reporting by Reuters.
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| Earthquake: 4.4 quake strikes Los Angeles; 6 aftershocks so far - Los Angeles Times Posted: 17 Mar 2014 09:13 AM PDT A shallow, magnitude 4.4 earthquake was reported Monday morning five miles from Westwood, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 6:25 a.m. PDT at a depth of five miles. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The quake was felt over a large swath of Southern California but especially in the Westside and the San Fernando Valley. Here are the latest updates: There have been six smaller aftershocks so far and more are expected. Robert Graves, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told reporters that Monday's earthquake was the most significant shake in this Southern California area since the magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Chino Hills in 2008. FULL COVERAGE: Southern California earthquakes Graves said there have been a couple of aftershocks already since the magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck six miles from Westwood at 6:25 a.m. Monday. Graves said there is always the small possibility that the 4.4 earthquake was only a prelude to an equal or stronger shake. "Always the possibility that it's a foreshock," Graves said, adding that about 5% of earthquakes are followed by an equal or larger shake and that if it does happen, it would occur within the next several hours. The region where the fault hit has not been seismically active recently, said Graves. "The location is somewhat surprising. It's within the Santa Monica Mountains. We have not seen seismicity in it in recent times," said Caltech seismologist Egill Hauksson. "It has been dormant for quite some time." L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed the city has no reports of damage. "Today's earthquake is a reminder that every L.A. family must be prepared with food, water and other essentials, as well as a plan," the mayor said in a statement. "While it appears the greatest impact of this temblor was a rude awakening, we are executing our post-earthquake protocols to survey our neighborhoods and critical infrastructure. I have been briefed by my science advisor for seismic safety, Dr. Lucy Jones, and will continue to monitor the situation." Nancy King, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said: "We live in earthquake country and we can expect earthquakes frequently and the big one, one day. We don't know when that one's coming." King said she hopes Monday's earthquake can be used as a teachable event for residents to be better prepared for earthquakes. "We need to get ready and I think the good news about earthquakes is you can get ready," she said, adding that residents can do things such as bolting down heavy furniture and securing bookcases that could help dramatically during a strong event. Quake felt over large area (6:38 a.m.) The quake was felt over a large area of Southern California. Metro said there might be some delays due to the temblor. Downgraded to 4.4 (6:41 a.m.) The USGS downgraded the quake to a 4.4 magnitude from 4.7. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department said there were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries. A spokeswoman from the Los Angeles Police Department also had no reports of damage. Quake strongest on Westside, Valley (6:46 a.m.) |
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