EU Countries Set to Expel Russian Diplomats
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
UK and international media are reporting the intention of at least 10 EU member states to expel unknown numbers of Russian diplomats from their countries.
The London Telegraph said “scores” will be ordered out from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland.
Following a Thursday Brussels summit, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said “(t)here wasn’t a single head of state who questioned the authenticity of the analysis of the UK services.”
Several countries reportedly went along reluctantly, failing to soften EU policy - all heads of state knowing May maliciously falsified information about Russia. She above all knows it. So does Trump.
A disgraceful European Council statement said it “agrees with the United Kingdom government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation”- a bald-faced lie.
The EC statement was changed from its draft form, toughening it over saying it “takes (Britain’s assessment) extremely seriously.”
On Friday, May lied saying “(t)he threat from Russia is one that knows no borders and it is clear that Russia is challenging the values we share as Europeans and it is right that we are standing together in defense of those values,” adding:
“What is crucial is that there was recognition around the table last night about the threat that Russia poses, and as I say they recognized and agreed with the UK Government’s assessment that it is highly likely that Russia is responsible for the attempted murder on the streets of Salisbury and that there is no plausible alternative explanation.”
On the same day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned of consequences if EU and US harsh measures are imposed on Russia, adding:
These countries are ignoring Skripal incident facts, stressing:
“We have laid out our position in full, and did it more than once. If the European Union is reluctant to reckon with it, opts to ignore very serious inconsistencies in the UK’s positions, which are obvious to us, then by and large it indicates the European Union’s refusal to work with facts and reality and means that the concept of EU solidarity trumps common sense,” adding:
“Naturally, the European Union as a whole and each of its members individually may make any decisions they deem to be correct.”
“But, obviously, consequences of such decisions will cut both ways, and our colleagues in the European Union have had a chance to see such disputed features in many situations. Such steps has become the special of the day in a number of countries’ policies.”
Separately, Russian upper house Federation Council International Affairs chairman Vladimir Dzhabarov took aim at Washington, saying if the Trump administration “expels Russian diplomats, retaliatory measures will be taken immediately.”
US media reported that Trump’s National Security Council recommended expelling Russian diplomats for the Skripal incident - the Kremlin had nothing to do with.
Shameful stuff, likely worsening ahead, risking unknown possible consequences.
A Final Comment
Russia wastes time and energy focusing on improving East/West relations - unattainable given dark forces in Washington seeking regime change, a longstanding objective, wanting its main geopolitical rival politically, economically and militarily weakened.
US-led Western countries are implacably hostile to Moscow for its sovereign independence, opposition to Washington’s imperial agenda, Vladimir Putin’s strong/overwhelmingly popular leadership, and its superior military strength.
Russia’s future is East, not West.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
