Hello Alexander,

 ak>>> Well, I've always said that people believe in what they want to
 ak>>> believe. The only way to free yourself from the delusions is to
 ak>>> get information from the first hands. Probably some western
 ak>>> journalists would take some courage and come into Crimea to report
 ak>>> some real facts.

 LL>> How about cultural exchanges? Where groups of people (college
 LL>> students, for example) can stay for a while and learn what life is
 LL>> like in that part of the world. Or musicians, artists, etc., giving
 LL>> performances or lectures, thus enabling all to learn from each
 LL>> other.

 ak> Indeed, there are exchange programs for students, but they cannot be
 ak> extended to Crimea because of its present legal status. Common people
 ak> can visit Crimea unless they don't care of the Ukraine side reaction.
 ak> Maybe you remember the last Eurovision song contest held in Kiev - the
 ak> Russian participant, a disabled girl, was not allowed to participate
 ak> because she visited Crimea in 2015.

Total bullcrap.  There is enough blame to go around for all to see.
What is needed is positive solutions to solve problems, not negative
finger pointing to create more problems.

Michiel van der Vlist wrote an excellent article pertaining to
conflict resolution that was published in the Fidonews newsletter
some years ago.  He had it on his personal web site the last time
I looked, and it may still be there.  However, here is a short
excerpt from a site that deals with this very same subject -

                   -=begin quote=-

In order to help societies in the former Soviet Union to transform,
the European Union has to be more open to their citizens. Traveling
to Europe has to be easier, and a non-visa regime should be seriously
considered. Contact between the West and the Eastern part of
Europe/Asia is necessary to build understanding and friendship
between the societies.

Another recommendation would be the creation of a platform for
young people from the West and the East to meet, talk, and share
their experiences and ideas. This platform should include meetings,
round tables and conferences. Separate events should be organized
for students, young professionals and scholars interested in
international security, foreign policy and conflict transformation.
Central and Eastern Europe would be a good place for such meetings.
The EU’s countries from this region may play a crucial role in
connecting people from the “old” Europe and the former Soviet Union.
All these activities will promote a culture of dialogue and
understanding necessary for the safe future of all the European
nations.

Finally, insufficient training and formal study of peace and conflict
transformation must be redressed in Central and Eastern Europe. Having
in memory two disastrous world wars, difficult history and current
problems, especially in the former Soviet Union (vide: conflicts in
North Caucasus and in Ukraine), there is a need for a place where
people from this region can take part in peace and conflict
transformation trainings and workshops. It would promote a culture
of cooperation and dialogue instead of conflict, and peace studies
would be spread to the Eastern parts of the continent. This is a huge
investment, but it gives hope that in a long-term perspective we will
be witnessing a “peace generation” instead of one of war. The newly
created European Institute of Peace should play an active role in
this project.

Source -

http://www.beyondintractability.org/library/conflict-ukraine-
european-point-vie

Crimea is part of Europe.  Always has been, as far as I know.
Why Russia and other countries are trying to make this issue an
East/West type of thing is beyond me.  The old ways of doing
things should have been put out to pasture long ago.

What the world is seeing today is various countries re-investing
in war, rather than peace.  Some European countries, such as Sweden,
have even reinstated military conscription.  This is not good.

If you want peace, work for justice.  Nobody can do it alone,
but somebody has to make a start.

--Lee

-- 
Big Or Small We Lay Them All

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