Re: Hypocrisy Of The West Regarding Ukraine : Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:59 pm
Kelvin's Ferret wrote:
Argument doesn't really work. Bradford has never been part of Pakistan, and Pakistan has never made any claim on Bradford being part of Pakistan. Also, the people of Bradford with Pakistani origin are migrants or the descendents of migrants, they left one territory for another a long way away. Crimea on the other hand was part of the Russian Empire from 18th century and then it's successor the Soviet Empire in the 20th century, it was only ceded to Ukraine within the context of Ukraine also being part of that Soviet Empire. So it's existence outside of effective Russian control is a relevatively short post-Soviet experience.
I'd guess the majority of those in Crimea, who consider themselves Russian, were actually born in the Ukraine - It doesn't matter how recently Russia gave Crimea to the Ukranians, you can't just march back in on the whim of the people, without at least trying to negotiate with the people who legally 'own' the land.
The scary thing is, if Russia are allowed to get away with this method of land grabbing, then I fear this won't be the last such incident in Eastern Europe.
I'm all for the will of the people, but things have to be done properly (negotiation, proper legal referendum, etc).... A rush job referendum, loaded towards those who have called that vote, isn't really how you should be doing things.