BALTIC AMERICAN FREEDOM LEAGUE CALL TO ACTION ! URGENT! JUST EIGHT WORKING DAYS LEFT! November 27, 2014 Dear Friends: “If Russia takes another bite out of Ukraine, it will be because the first one was so easy to chew.” U.S. Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) Supporters of the Baltic nations and Ukraine in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would prohibit the U.S, Government “from taking any action that recognizes or implies recognition of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or the territorial waters de facto or de jure.” Last Friday the bill passed out of Committee. Now we have to convince Republican House leadership to bring it to the Floor for a vote. And of course, we have to also convince enough Representatives to vote for the bill. Unfortunately, we still do not have enough cosponsors for the bill. We urgently need more cosponsors. Congress has recessed for the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume their sessions next week for two weeks i.e. EIGHT WORKING DAYS, and after that they adjourn. All the bills and resolutions that were NOT adopted go to the waste paper basket, we are back to zero. There is no carry over of pending legislation to the new Congress. Therefore, it is imperative that you act immediately. Contact your congressperson today to urge him or her to cosponsor H.R. 5241. Although various government officials and the Department of State have noted that the United States will not recognize the annexation of Crimea, the non-recognition policy needs to be given an official confirmation by the Government. It needs to be done immediately during this session of Congress. If it is not, it will probably be March or April before a similar bill might be adopted. Every moment that the United States and its allies fail to condemn the action sends a signal to Putin, encouraging him to become even more arrogant, ambitious and aggressive in his military adventures in Ukraine and eastern Europe than he is at the present.. Too many countries appear to have selfishly and cowardly accepted Russia’s occupation and annexation of Crimea as fait accompli, about which there is nothing anyone can do at least in the near term. Their response was to warn Putin that there will be severe consequences--the next time. This timidity is paving the way to further Russian aggression in Ukraine and possibly other countries. The bill underscores that the occupation and annexation of Crimea is both continuing and illegal and that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be continuously reaffirmed by members of the international community-even if it may be some time before the aggressor withdraws. A policy of non-recognition will also communicate to the people of Ukraine that the United States will not forget what has happened to them and their nation. Since 1932 the United States has maintained a policy that it will not recognize changes in international borders achieved by the use of force or the threat of force. Russia’s war on Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea fits the perquisite absolutely. The United States must lead the way in refusing to recognize and legitimize the annexation of Crimea. Russia should be condemned and ostracized by international community. Failing to do so sets a dangerous precedent for the forcible takeover of more sovereign territory. The bill that we are talking about is designated as Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act (H.R. 5241), introduced by Representatives Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH). It would ensure that the United States does not recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea nor take any action that would imply such recognition. It will communicate the seriousness of this situation to Putin and that his actions are unacceptable and will not tolerated. It will help to reassure our friends and allies bordering Russia that Putin must stop his aggression. The measure would prohibit the United States from financing or guaranteeing investments in Crimea with Russia as an intermediary, deny entry to the United States of Crimean ships carrying Russian customs documentation, prohibit government officials to visit Crimea, and restrict certain forms of aid to countries that recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea. As Russian troops gear up for another land grab, it is most important that the United States adopt a Non-recognition policy. THE BALTIC AMERICAN FREEDOM LEAGUE URGES YOU TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO URGE HIM OR HER TO COSPONSOR H.R. 5241. You may contact your congressperson by telephone, fax or e-mail. If you do not know who is your congressperson go to Internet and click on Thomas-Library of Congress, then click House of Representatives on the left side of the page, then follow the instruction. The text of the bill may be viewed on the Internet, click on Thomas-Library of Congress, then write H.R. 5241 in the appropriate box. We have posted instructions on our web site BAFL under Call to Action Communicating with Congress on writing letters to congresspersons, and under Sample Letters, copying actual letters sent to congresspersons. To cosponsor the resolution, your congressperson should contact Collin Davenport at (202) 225-1492 or ([email protected]) of Representative Connolly’s staff or Chris Hess at (202) 225-2216 or ([email protected]) of Representative Steve Chabot’s staff. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Please distribute this information to your e-mail contacts. SPREAD THE WORD - HELP UKRAINE NOW !!! Valdis Pavlovskis Director
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 07:04:31 +0000