Ukraine’s neo-Nazi leader becomes top military adviser, legalizes fighters

Ukraine’s Interpol-wanted leader of extremist group Right Sector, Dmitry Yarosh, has been appointed as an adviser to the country’s Chief of General Staff. He has agreed to legalize thousands of fighters as an assault team subordinate to the regular army.

“Colonel General Viktor Muzhenko, Chief of General Staff, and Dmytro Yarosh agreed the format of cooperation between ‘Pravy Sector’ [Right Sector] and the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Ukraine’s defense ministry said in a statement.

The appointment apparently comes after successful negotiations took place between the so-called Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK Right Sector) and Ukraine’s top military command regarding possible options of incorporating the armed gangs inside the defense ministry’s structure of command.

The Right Sector’s armed paramilitary battalions agreed to be “subordinated to military leaders,” the ministry said. According to the statement, Muzhenko and Yarosh stressed the need for “unity”,confirming fighters’ readiness to obey Kiev’s central command. “DUK is ready to perform common tasks with the Army, ready to obey the army leadership in matters relating to national defense against an external enemy, which enables every patriot to protect Ukraine,”Yarosh said.

Image from mil.gov.ua

Yarosh, who was one of the main figureheads of the violence-seeped coup last year, is wanted by Interpol for incitement of terrorism, and extremist activities. He was placed on the international wanted list at the request of Russian authorities. Despite his notoriety, Yarosh is an elected member of the Ukrainian parliament heading the Right Sector political party, which is banned in Russia as an extremist organization.

Over the weekend Yarosh announced that he plans to legalize private military companies in Ukraine, and will soon introduce new legislation into the Parliament. "I think it could be a good option for people, who can’t get back from war inside their heads," the extremist leader claimed. “This will provide jobs to many people, and stability in the country, after all.”

The legalization comes after Yarosh offered to reform his Volunteer Corps into a professional assault team, in response to Kiev’s demands for all paramilitary units to surrender their arms or join the country’s official armed forces. Right Sector initially refused to obey the ultimatum, calling them“traitorous” and claiming that “volunteers and patriots” will only lay down arms after Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty is restored.

The so-called volunteer, as well as territorial defense and other types of privately formed and sponsored battalions, have been fighting alongside Ukraine’s regular army since Kiev began its “anti-terrorist operation” in the east of the country last April. Many of them have been noted for their cruelty and murderous tactics against the local population, such as Aidar and Azov being accused by international human rights associations of war crimes.

After a ceasefire agreement was reached in February, some of these armed units refused to leave the Donbass region and have regularly violated the reached agreements. Edited time: April 06, 2015 13:18 RT

Obama to Arabs: Do not concerned about Iran’s influence.

US President Barack Obama says what threatens the Arab governments is the increasing dissatisfaction inside their countries, not the growing influence of Iran in the region.

“The biggest threats that they [Arab counties] face may not be coming from Iran invading. It’s going to be from dissatisfaction inside their own countries,” Obama said in an interview with the New York Times on Sunday.

The US president referred to internal problems in the Arab countries, including "alienated populations" and "youth underemployment."

“Part of our job is to work with these states and say, ‘How can we build your defense capabilities against external threats, but also, how can we strengthen the body politic in these countries… That’s a tough conversation to have, but it’s one that we have to have,” Obama said.

The president announced last week that he would meet with the leaders of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, at his Camp David retreat outside Washington this spring. 

President Obama said he also wanted to discuss with the Arab allies how to build more effective defense capabilities.

The president also said the Arab countries needed to be more active in addressing regional crises. “I can send a message to them about the US’s commitments to work with them and ensure that they are not invaded from the outside, and that perhaps will ease some of their concerns and allow them to have a more fruitful conversation with the Iranians,” he said.

In February, Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE joined Israel in opposing US efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over its nuclear energy program, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

On April 2, a framework agreement was reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany -- after eight days of marathon talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Iran and the world powers issued a joint statement, saying that no Iranian nuclear facility will be shut down and that Iran will continue with its nuclear activities in all its nuclear facilities, including Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Arak.

Obama also described the nuclear negotiations with Iran as “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see whether or not we can at least take the nuclear issue off the table.” Mon Apr 6, 2015 10:27AM  PTV.

US ambassador barred from Prague Castle by Czech president.

Czech President Milos Zeman has said the US ambassador is not welcome at his Prague Castle residence, reports say.

The apparent snub follows remarks by US envoy Andrew Schapiro seen as critical of the president's decision to attend forthcoming World War Two commemorations in Moscow.

Several world leaders are boycotting the ceremony over Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict.

Mr Zeman is considered more sympathetic to Russia on the issue.

Ambassador Schapiro had "overstepped the mark" by criticising the decision to attend celebrations in May marking the anniversary of the end of WW2, news portal Parlamentni Listy quotes Mr Zeman as saying.

Because of this "the doors of the castle were closed" to Mr Schapiro, Mr Zeman continues.

"I cannot imagine that the Czech ambassador in Washington would advise the US president where he should travel. And I will not allow any ambassador to have a say in my foreign travel plans." Presidential spokesman Jiri Ovcacek later sought to downplay Mr Zeman's comments, saying that Mr Schapiro could still take part in social events at the Castle.

Mr Schapiro is quoted by Czech media as having said in March that it would "be awkward" if the Czech president was the only statesman from an EU country on the platform on Red Square. The US embassy has declined to address Mr Zeman's comments. Mr Zeman is known for his outspoken views on a range of issues, often at variance with those of the Social Democrat-led government, correspondents say.

The presidency is largely ceremonial, but Mr Zeman became the first man directly elected to the post when he took office in 2013. BBC 05.04 2015.

US Senator: Opposing Iran nuclear deal can backfire on Netanyahu.

US Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about consequences of opposing against a recent nuclear agreement with Iran.

“This can back backfire on him,” Feinstein told CNN on Sunday. “I wish that he [Netanyahu] would contain himself, because he has put out no real alternative. In his speech to the Congress, no real alternative. Since then, no real alternative,” she added.

The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee rejected the Israeli leader’s remarks. "I don't think it's helpful for Israel to come out and oppose this one opportunity to change a major dynamic, which is downhill - a downhill dynamic in this part of the world," Feinstein said.

"It's a better agreement, candidly, than I thought it was ever going to be," she said.

President Barack Obama said in his weekly address on Saturday that diplomacy was the best option with Iran, adding he expects a “robust debate” in the United States to win over skeptics of the framework nuclear agreement.

"As President and Commander in Chief, I firmly believe that the diplomatic option -- a comprehensive, long-term deal like this -- is by far the best option," Obama said. Sun Apr 5, 2015 3:38PM PTV.

Iran-P5+1 agreement seeks removal of sanctions, not suspension: Rouhani.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says a recent agreement reached with the P5+1 group on Iran's nuclear program seeks removal of all anti-Iran sanctions, not their suspension.

“We have never negotiated the suspension of sanctions and if it were the case, there would be no agreement,” Rouhani said in a meeting with a group of senior Iranian officials in Tehran on Sunday.

He added that both Iran and six world powers are seriously determined to reach a final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program, stressing that the world has no option but to reach an agreement with the Islamic Republic.

“The world knows that there is no way but to [reach] agreement and understanding with Iran because the great, courageous and resistant Iranian people have stood by their ideals despite hardships,” Rouhani noted, stressing that the world has come to a realization that the Iranian nation will never “yield to pressure and sanctions.”

According to a landmark agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 countries in Switzerland on April 2, all previous resolutions of the UN Security Council against the country would be rescinded, he said.

The Iranian president emphasized that during the recent negotiations with the six global powers in Lausanne, Switzerland,Tehran insisted on the termination of all economic, banking and financial sanctions.

He criticized claims by certain countries about Iran’s intention to dominate the Middle East region if it achieves success in the nuclear negotiations, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought to invade any country…but we will defend ourselves against anybody who intends to encroach upon the people’s rights.”

Described the Lausanne talks as complicated, tough and unprecedented, Rouhani said the negotiating sides still face an uphill task despite good steps taken so far.

Iran will implement the Additional Protocol temporarily and voluntarily in line with its confidence-building measures and after that the protocol will be ratified within a time frame by the Iranian government and Parliament (Majlis). Sun Apr 5, 2015 1:3PM PTV

Iran rejects US take on sanctions relief as wrong.

An Iranian official has rejected an official piece of document by the White House stipulating that lifting sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear activities would be based on a step-by-step mechanism.

Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said Saturday that Washington’s "fact sheet" on a recent understanding reached between Iran and the P5+1 group contains wrong interpretations on the issue of sanctions relief.

He said the issue of sanctions relief has been “wrongly explained” in what the US has issued as a "fact sheet" on the mutual understanding, Araqchi said in an interview with state television.

Iran and P5+1 group of countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany -- along with officials from the European Union finally reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program after eight days of marathon talks in Lausanne on Thursday.

The joint statement read by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Persian late Thursday stipulated that the parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will, after the adoption of the Security Council resolution, need a period of preparation time to implement the JCPOA. Once the preparation period is over, and simultaneous with the start of the implementation of nuclear measures by Iran on a designated date, the lifting of “all sanctions” will automatically go into action.

Araqchi said if the Americans have understood the JCPOA in a different manner, their interpretation of the statement would be discussed in future talks in order to be corrected.

Araqchi further reiterated that based on the mutual understanding reached between Iran and the P5+1, all sanctions on Iran should be lifted as soon as the final nuclear deal goes into effect. Sat Apr 4, 2015 4:52PM PTV

Understanding the Technical Dimension of the P5+1 Iran Deal.

I highly recommend that you watch the following two interviews conducted by the director of theRealNews.com, Paul Jay.  They would give you technical insight into the ‘understanding’ reached between P5+1 & Iran as well as possibly raising some other political questions at the same time:
 

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=13580

 

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=13582

 

US attempts at global domination are futile – Gorbachev

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev believes that US attempts to unilaterally rule the world are futile, just as any party which, instead of trying to co-exist with another, struggles to impose global hegemony is doomed to fail.

“We live in a global world, and US attempts to become a ‘lone wolf’ and conduct unilateral operations… they all fail, collapse, but [the US] tries again,” Gorbachev said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel, emphasizing that in a similar fashion anyone else’s “attempts to unilaterally control the world would fail.”

“We should think about how to co-exist in this hard and crazy – yet the sole – world known to a man so far,” Gorbachev added.

Speaking about the current geopolitical situation Gorbachev noted that the international community, particularly the United States, blinded by its “triumph” after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has “failed to make adequate conclusions.”

“So much effort was made to stop the nuclear arms race, the Cold War…we have learned nothing from it. And now there are even talks about war again,” he said.

European countries had a total freedom of choice in terms of what policies to follow, but Americans did their best to “lay their hands on it,” Gorbachev believes.

Earlier, Gorbachev warned Western and Russian leaders against dragging the world into a new Cold War amid the Ukraine crisis. Back in December he said that “there are signs of Cold War” in the recent cooling down of relations between Moscow and Washington. And while Europe must become the locomotive of shaping the new world order to prevent new conflicts, he said it is being pushed in the opposite direction.

US policies, Gorbachev says, are defined by the defense industry which has a heavy influence on the country’s economy, politics, culture and art. “American foreign policies to a great extent are controlled by anything but democratic forces,” he said.

He reiterated his belief that the US needs political and economic reforms similar to ‘Perestroika’ carried out in the Soviet Union during his rule in the 1980s.

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Gorbachev expressed wishes for Russian people to always be proud of their ancestors and the history of their nation. “A Russian person has reasons for patriotism,” Gorbachev said, adding that anyone who sincerely loves the motherland also loves and engages in everything unfolding there. “No matter what happens to me, I am not going to flee [Russia], I could have fled, but no, I think it's the last thing to do,” Gorbachev said.

Russia will mark the 70th anniversary of wartime victory on May 9 with military parades in honor of the holiday being held in cities across the country. More than 78,500 people will take part in the parades and almost 2,000 items of military equipment will be put on display. Published time: April 04, 2015 04:50 RT.

All Iran sanctions to be lifted upon deal implementation: Araqchi

A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator says all sanctions against Tehran will be lifted under a mutual understanding reached between Iran and the P5+1 countries in Switzerland immediately after the  a final deal goes into force.

All economic and financial sanctions as well as all resolutions issued by the UN Security Council (UNSC) against Iran will be null and void on the first day of the implementation of a final agreement to be reached between Iran and the six global powers, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said in a televised interview on Friday.

The removal of Iran from six binding UNSC resolutions was an “unprecedented” measure and an outcome of the Iranian nation’s resistance in a full-fledged political, economic and security battle over the past 10 years, said Araqchi, who is a chief Iranian nuclear negotiator.

The recognition of Iran’s legitimate and legal nuclear program was the key achievement of the Lausanne agreement, he noted.

Araqchi emphasized that the world now pursues a respectful attitude to Iran “because the language of threat and sanctions is not acceptable to us and the world has come to the conclusion that no threat and sanctions will work on the Iranian nation.”

“Iran’s nuclear program, including enrichment [activities], has been recognized in the recent statement in Lausanne and it is not seen as a threat anymore,” the Iranian negotiator said.

He emphasized that both sides should live up to all their commitments under the Lausanne agreement, saying Iran reserves the right to reverse its position if the other side does not keep its side of the bargain. “We will continue our enrichment activities in Natanz [nuclear site]. We have no plans to build new enrichment sites for the long years ahead because Natanz meets our demands,” he pointed out.

He expressed hope that further negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries would come to fruition before July 1.

At the end of eight days of sensitive nuclear negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Thursday, Iran and the P5+1 states – the US, France, Britain, Russia and China plus Germany – issued a joint statement, saying that no Iranian nuclear facility will be shut down or suspended and that all sanctions against the Islamic Republic will be lifted.

The joint statement is a sign that Iran and its negotiating partners have come to a mutual understanding over Tehran’s nuclear program and will work to draw up a final accord by the end of the self-designated June 30 deadline.

According to the joint statement, Fordow nuclear facility will be turned into a research center for nuclear science and physics. It also said the heavy water reactor in the Iranian city of Arak will remain in place but will be redesigned and updated. Iran will implement the Additional Protocol temporarily and voluntarily in line with its confidence-building measures and after that the protocol will be ratified in a time frame by the Iranian government and Parliament (Majlis). Sat Apr 4, 2015 6:45AM PTV.

White House: GOP, Dems reaction to Iran nuclear understanding 'reassuring'.

The Obama administration says both Republicans and Democrats have given a “reassuring” response to a landmark understanding reached between Iran and the P5+1 in Switzerland this week.

"I did see some ratcheted up rhetoric on the fringes, but I actually think that most of the response here we found reassuring," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters on Friday.

"We have found that both Republicans and Democrats alike have shown a thoughtful response,” Schultz said. “They want to take a look at the details. That’s something that we appreciate."

Schultz said President Barack Obama has on his plan to speak with congressional leaders about the deal, noting the White House will “make sure they feel like they’re getting the information they need".

Elsewhere in his remarks, Schultz said the fact that nuclear experts were “comfortable” with the parameters of the deal made the White House satisfied.

The president “would not accept a deal unless he was reassured by the scientists” about its results he said, adding, "and that’s what we were able to accomplish". Sat Apr 4, 2015 3:55AM PTV.

Ukrainian lawmakers set to remove premier

Ukrainian lawmakers are set to remove the embattled country’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk over corruption charges.

The legislators will remove Yatsenyuk from his post through voting next week after a temporary investigative anti-corruption commission is established, Sergei Kaplin, the representative of the largest faction in the Ukrainian parliament, Petro Poroshenko Bloc, said on Friday.

Kaplin further added that signatures are being gathered for the establishment of the commission in the parliament. 

The commission will investigate the statements made by the former chairman of the Ukrainian State Financial Inspection, Nikolai Gordienko, who accused Yatsenyuk of corruption.

Yatsenyuk dismissed Gordienko in early March and ordered his activities to be investigated.

The premier also accused Gordienko of failing to successfully control state property and state finances.

Gordienko, however, accused the premier of covering up corruption schemes, saying his cabinet blocked the investigation into the corruption schemes from the time of the former government, an allegation denied by Yatsenyuk’s cabinet.

According to Gordienko, Ukraine’s Ukrtelecom Telecom Company was privatized in violation of the law and caused "billions" in damage. Sat Apr 4, 2015 2:19AM PTV.

Explained: 10 short answers to 5 key points on Iran nuclear deal.

Edited time: April 03, 2015 14:46 RT.comVienna. (Reuters/Heinz-Peter Bader)

After 18 months of negotiating, Iran has come to a preliminary agreement with China, Russia, France, UK, US and Germany (P5+1) on Tehran’s nuclear program. But what is Iran giving up to seal the deal and how can it benefit in the long run?

Uranium enrichment – Iran has agreed to only enrich uranium to 3.67%.

 

What is it? The process of turning uranium found in the ground into nuclear fuel that can be used to create nuclear energy, or potentially a nuclear bomb.

Why is it important? To build a nuclear bomb, uranium needs to be enriched to about 90 percent. The 3.67 percent agreed by Tehran means it would be practically impossible for Iran to build a nuclear weapon, but would allow it to use nuclear material for peaceful purposes.

The outcome: Iran gets to keep its nuclear program, albeit a limited one, while the likes of the US now know it will be much harder for Tehran to build a bomb.

n workers stand in front of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. (Reuters/Majid Asgaripour)

Centrifuges – Iran cuts centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,104, with 5,060 for enrichment

What are they? Centrifuges are vital to extract nuclear fuel from uranium in its mineral form. They work by spinning around at high speeds, which separate the different particles, eventually just leaving enriched uranium

Why are they important? The 6,000 or so centrifuges Iran has been allowed to keep are first generation and not the technically-advanced modern versions. This is like comparing a regular family car with a Formula 1 car, with Iran getting the former. If Tehran wanted to build a bomb now, it would take a very long time.

The outcome: Israel and US Republicans wanted Iran to give up all its centrifuges, while Barack Obama was originally prepared to let it keep 6,500.

Uranium enriching centrifuges. (Reuters/Caren Firouz)

Uranium stockpiles – Iran to cut the amount it keeps from 10,000kg to just 300kg

What are they? Uranium is the key ingredient necessary in order to operate a nuclear program. Once it has been enriched, it can be used to generate power or create a nuclear weapon.

Why are they important? By giving up 97 percent of its uranium stockpiles, Tehran has effectively given up any possibility to create a nuclear bomb.

The outcome: By reducing its stockpiles, Iran has increased transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while also making a commitment to use its nuclear program for peaceful purposes.

 (Image from Wikipedia)

Inspections – IAEA will have access to all Iran’s nuclear facilities

What is it? The IAEA is an organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear power and is against the building of nuclear weapons that are used for military purposes.

Why is it important? This will allow the international community to see if Iran is keeping its end of the bargain. The IAEA will be able to monitor everything concerning Tehran’s nuclear program – from the reactors to the materials, such as uranium and centrifuges.

The outcome: With such transparency in place, it would be almost impossible for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon without getting caught.

 

Sanctions – Iran will see crippling sanctions lifted, if it keeps its end of bargain

What are they? The latest sanctions were introduced against Iran in 2006 after Tehran refused to halt its uranium enrichment program.

Why are they important? Sanctions introduced against Iran have had a devastating effect on its economy. Areas such as oil and gas have been affected, while Tehran’s finance sector was also hit. This made it difficult for to trade on the world market, while areas such as Iran’s aviation industry suffered, as they were unable to get spare parts from the US and the West.

The outcome: The sanctions will only be fully lifted once Iran has proven it has stopped its nuclear enrichment program. Once they are lifted, it will be a massive boost to Tehran’s economy as it will increase trade and see new investment into the country.

 

Fallout from Iran nuclear deal

 

If Iran keeps its end of the deal, the West will know Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful. For Tehran, it will be able to produce nuclear energy, while also be showing to the Iranian public that it has not caved in to the demands of the US and its allies.

The nuclear deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 group (China, France, Russia, UK and US) and Germany is a victory in diplomacy. However, it has the potential to destabilize the region, with Saudi Arabia and Israel both wary of any thawing of relations between Iran and the West. Riyadh has already stated it wants its own nuclear program, while Israel’s relations with Washington have hit their lowest point for years.

 

Iran to abide by its promises if P5+1 group fulfills its obligations: Rouhani

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic will observe its obligations as per recent Lausanne statement achieved with the P5+1 countries, provided that the other side abides by its obligations as well.

Rouhani made the remark in a televised address to the Iranian nation in the capital, Tehran, on April 3.

“The world should know that we are not deceptive and are not liars and any promises we give will be within framework of our national interests and we will live up to our promises provided that the opposite side abides by its promises as well,” Rouhani said.

He added that if some day they decide to choose a new path, the way would be open to the Iranian nation to make a proportionate decision as well.

The Iranian president said the nuclear agreement is just a step toward interaction with the world and all those countries that want to respect the Iranian nation and “work with the people of Iran within framework” of mutual interests.

“There is no doubt that cooperation and interaction will benefit all,” he said. Fri Apr 3, 2015 2:12PM

 PTV.