As Invasion Looms, Venizelos Heads For Ukraine

Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will go to the embattled Ukraine on March 2, to meet the Greek community amid reports they had been targeted and attacked by the far-right group Pravy Sektor. He said there hadn’t been any assaults, although Ukraine is on the verge of chaos with Russian troops massed near its border after Russian President Vladimir Putin got parliamentary approval to move into the country that’s been torn apart politically since rebels ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, who is in Russia. Venizelos is sure to head to Mariupol, directly from Rome, where he was on an official visit. Unless matters change, he is then scheduled to head to Kiev to meet the country’s current leadership. EU foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss the situation in Ukraine, an EU diplomat said. “There will be an extraordinary meeting on Ukraine on Monday. Most likely after 1 PM,” said the diplomat. A SYRIZA lawmaker had accused the government of failing to protect the Greek community in Ukraine and referred to comments allegedly made by the head of the Greek community, Alexandra Protoshenko, that they were being attacked. Venizelos said that was incorrect and that Dourou should have checked with his ministry first. He said the Greek Embassy and consulates in Ukraine were in close contact with the Greek community there. The uprisings in Kiev and the political events following the riots, as well as the invasion of Russian troops in the Crimea, have caused many worries to Greeks living in Mariupol. Mariupol has a permanent population of 500,000 people and a port to the Sea of Azov, linked by a narrow strait to the Black Sea. Around 100,000 Greeks live in the Ukrainian city, organized in several different communities. “There are no records of attacks targeting the Greek community of Mariupol, even by extremists,” stated the Greek Consul to Mariupol, Dimitris Papandreou, adding, “Greeks are united. They are peaceful and law-abiding citizens. We are in constant contact with them and coordinating anything they need, while also speaking with our European counterparts.” The Consul also mentioned that the Greek-Ukrainians share the same concerns with every other citizen about the recent political developments taking place in their country, but aren’t engaging in any activities that would threaten their well-being or create worries to the Consulate. “The Greeks here were always peaceful and committed to educational activities. Their level of Hellenism is very elevated and this is recognized by everyone. Greeks here never participated in extremist political groups or organizations, so as to be targeted,” said Consul Papandreou. Greece ‘s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kyriakos Gerontopoulos, commenting on the recent developments in the country, said, “There have been neither talks about relocating or repatriating the Greeks living in Ukraine nor chartering more flights.” He added, “The existing plans by the Foreign Ministry are implemented in case there is a problem for Greeks living all around the world, so that we can meet their needs. So, don’t think that there is a special plan being put through just for Ukraine,” explained the minister. Αbout Ukraine Ukraine, is the second largest country in Europe after Russia. It borders Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, Russia and the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. Area: 603,550 sq km (slightly smaller than Texas) Population: 44,573,205 (July 2013 est.) Median age: 40.3 years Capital: Kiev (Kyiv) Ethnic Groups: Ukrainian 77.8 percent, Russian 17.3 percent, Belarusian 0.6 percent, Moldovan 0.5 percent, Crimean Tatar 0.5 percent, Bulgarian 0.4 percent, Hungarian 0.3 percent, Romanian 0.3 percent, Polish 0.3 percent, Jewish 0.2 percent and other 1.8 percent (2001 census) Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox – Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox – Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6% and other 3.2% (2006 est.) GDP: $331.6 billion (2012 est.) GDP per capita: $7,300 (2012 est.) Unemployment: 7.5 percent (2012 est.) Other Facts: Prior to the 20th century, Ukrainian territories were controlled at different times by Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Mongols, Cossacks and others. From the 18th to 20th centuries, Russia and Soviet authorities carried out a program of Russification to discourage Ukrainian national identity. Timeline: 1917-1920 – Following the 1917 Russian Revolution and toward the end of World War I, Ukraine is briefly an independent nation. 1920s – Ukraine becomes part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 1921-1922 – A famine kills more than one million people. 1932-1933 – Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s policy of collectivization leads to the Great Famine (Holodomor) in which millions of Ukrainians die of starvation. 1941 – During World War II, Germany invades Ukraine. More than six million Ukrainians die. 1944 – Russia regains control of Ukraine and expands its borders to include territory taken from Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia. April 26, 1986 – Reactor number four explodes at the Chernobyl, Ukraine, nuclear power plant, releasing large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. Over 100,000 people are evacuated from their homes. Authorities say the disaster directly killed about 30 people. July 16, 1990 – Ukraine declares sovereignty. August 24, 1991 – The Ukrainian Parliament declares independence, pending a referendum on December 1. December 1, 1991 – The referendum for independence passes with 90 percent approval. December 8, 1991 – Ukraine joins the new Commonwealth of Independent States, along with Russia and Belarus. 2004 – President Leonid Kuchma declines to run for a third term and endorses Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Russia President Vladimir Putin also supports Yanukovych’s campaign. September 2004 – Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko develops a mysterious illness which leaves his face pock-marked. Medical tests later show he is suffering from dioxin poisoning.

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