GERMAN INTELLECTUALS
SUPPORT PUTIN LINE
ON UKRAINE:
In a remarkable document published in Neue Rheinische Zeitung, 23 April 2014, 300 leading German intellectuals openly support Russian President Vladimir Putin's line on the current crisis in Ukraine and his general line on relations between Russia and Europe for the future in direct opposition to the German government and the EU acting as lapdogs for Washington's warmongering agenda. The letter coincided with the visit to Kiev by US Vice-President Joe Biden who praised the illegal Kiev Junta and promised more financial and political support to the Junta in it's continued bombastic pretense to be the Government of Ukraine.
Here is the English translation:
Dear Mr. President !
In your speech to the State Duma you asked for
understanding from the Germans.
We are German citizens who have experienced the post-war
majority in the western half of Germany. When the Cold War ended in 1990 and
our country was re-united, a sigh of relief went through the world, because the
ever- looming danger of a nuclear military conflict which would have engulfed
the entire globe seemed to have been avoided. Germany would have been wiped
out.
The Soviet Union made unparalleled sacrifices in its
decisive contribution to the liberation of Europe from Nazism. Nevertheless, in
1990 it was ready to support German reunification in 1991, to dissolve the
Warsaw Pact and accept NATO membership of the reunified Germany. This was not
honored by the West. The then US Ambassador in Moscow (1987 to 1991), Jack
Matlock, confirmed
a few days ago in the Washington Post that President Bush had agreed
not to take advantage of the generosity of President Gorbachev. The expansion
of NATO into former Soviet republics, the establishment of military bases in
former Warsaw Pact states and the establishment of a missile defense shield in
Eastern Europe with a unilateral termination of the ABM Treaty by the United
States are not only blatant breaches of good faith. These measures are
understood by us as a Western claim to power directed against the Russian state
and the economic consolidation of your country after you took office in 2000.
Moreover, Keir A Lieber and Daryl G Press in their 2006 Foreign Affairs article “The
Rise of U.S. Nuclear Primacy” convincingly showed that the purpose of
the missile defense shield is to facilitate a first strike nuclear neutralisation
of Russia.
This history, in concise form, reflects the background
against which we judge the events in Ukraine since November 2013. It is now
well documented that the U.S. has exploited the legitimate protests of the
Ukrainian people for their own purposes. The pattern is evident from other
countries: Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine in 2004, Egypt, Syria, Libya, and Venezuela.
Within twelve hours of the negotiated agreement with the
European Union and OSCE, announced by the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle
and involving a peaceful transition of power, it was summararily abrogated with
the help of fascist forces. Those behind the current coup government in Kiev
are shown on the website of the Open Ukraine Foundation of the
incumbent Prime Minister.
The intra – and international – legal issues surrounding
secession of the Crimea are a separate issue. We do not address the legal, but
purely political events here. Against the background of developments in Europe
since 1990, the deployment of some 1,000 U.S. military bases around the world,
the control of the Straits by the U.S. and the re-focussing of the perpetrators
of the Maidan threat to the Russian Black Sea fleet, we see the secession of
the Crimea as a defensive measure with a simultaneous message: this far
and no further! The crucial difference with Kosovo’s independence
declaration is that the latter was only made possible by illegal NATO bombing,
unfortunately with the participation of Germany, which created the conditions
for independence.
Dear Mr. President, you have called for an economic
community from Lisbon to Vladivostok for almost four years. It would be the
economic basis for the“common European home”. Ukraine could make a
perfect bridge for future cooperation between your intended Eurasian Union and
the European Union, not least in cultural terms. We are persuaded the the
purpose of the massive influence of the USA is to prevent the Ukraine from
becoming such a bridge. The forces which have prevailed in the European
Commission are supporting the policy of the United States against Russia. The
speech of the Executive Secretary General of the European External Action
Service, Pierre Vimont, on 14 March this year is so far unique (EurActiv, “EU
shunned from US-Russia meeting on Ukraine”).
Dear Mr. President, we trust that your historic
speech in 2001 will continue to form the basis for your actions against the EU
and Germany in the German Bundestag. The latest polls show that the majority of
Germans do not want any confrontation with the Russian Federation and
understand Russia’s reaction to the events in Ukraine. We do not underestimate
the difficulties faced by the Federal Republic of Germany as a member of the EU
and NATO concerning Russia, these are also known to you. However, at least we
expect the Federal Government to operate the old Roman legal principle audiatur
et altera pars (“hear the other side too”). This was however omitted
in connection with the neighborhood policy of the EU in the case of Ukraine.
Even during the Cold War Russia has not made use of the
argument that 27 millions of its citizens died during WWII for political gain
against Germany. This figure alone gives a special quality in the relations
between our countries. The people of Germany have a keen sense of to this: when “The
Group of Soviet forces in Germany” in 1994 takes leave of Germany with
a performance of its music corps on the square before the Bundeskunsthalle in
Bonn, there were moving scenes between the numerous spectators and musicians. In
this context, when we see the present news reporting and commentaries in the
German media we can only say that we find them disgusting.
Dear Mr. President, with our modest means as simple
citizens, we will help to ensure that the intended division of Europe does not
succeed, but the ideas of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz be brought back to life. We
are convinced that if the states and peoples of the Eurasian continent regulate
their affairs peacefully with each other, respectfully, cooperatively, on the
basis of law and without outside interference, this will also radiate to the
rest of the world. We see you in this sense as an ally.
For your present, and hopefully next term, we wish you
strength, stamina, intelligence and skill.
With utmost respect,
Mit vorzüglicher Hochachtung
Jochen Scholz, Oberstleutnant a.D.
Volker Bräutigam, Journalist
Wolf Gauer, Filmemacher/Journalist
Andreas Hauß, Historiker, Publizist
Regine Naeckel, Redakteurin
Dr. Ludwig Watzal, Journalist und Redakteur, Bonn
Stefan Siegert, Zeichner, Autor
Peter Kleinert, Journalist, Dokumentarfilmer, Herausgeber
der Neue Rheinische Zeitung (PK)
Günter Schupp, Rentner
Ulrich Sander, Journalist, Bundessprecher der Vereinigung
der Verfolgten des Naziregimes/Bund der Antifaschisten
Evelyn Hecht-Galinski, Publizistin und Autorin
Benjamin Hecht
Peter Lommes, Immobilienkfm.
Wilfried Rühe, Rentner, Hauptmann a.D. der NVA, Vorsitzender
der Gemeinschaft der 13er e.V.
Claudia Karas, Aktionsbündnis für einen gerechten Frieden in
Palästina, Friedensaktivistin
Peter M. Richter, Jurist
Antje Richter, Diplombibliothekarin
Tilo Schönberg, Herausgeber des Informationsportals
0815-info.com
Hartmut Barth-Engelbart, Schriftsteller, Kabarettist,
Liedermacher, Historiker
Günter Schenk, membre du Collectif Judéo Arabe et Citoyen
pour la Palestine, Strasbourg
Wolfgang Jung, Herausgeber der LUFTPOST
Ulrich Gellermann, Herausgeber der Rationalgalerie
Tim Bräutigam, Kundenbetreuer
Rainer Rupp, Journalist
Winfried Belz, Dipl.-Theologe, Klinikseelsorger i.R.
Friedrich Gentzsch, Dipl.-Ing. Architekt
Birgit Gentzsch, Lehrerin i.R GEW
Harri Grünberg, Vorsitzender des Netzwerkes Cuba, Mitglied
des Bundesausschusses der Partei Die Linke
Dr. Werner Bollendorf, Historiker, selbst. Kaufmann i.R.
Thomas Immanuel Steinberg, Rentner
Fritz Reichert, Physiker
Dr. Manfred Lotze, Arzt
Annette Klepzig, MTA im Ruhestand, Mitglied bei Pax Christi
Dr. Dieter Weber, Historiker und Archivar
Dr. med. Jens Wagner, Assistenzarzt, IPPNW
Johannes Klier, Musiker
Ingrid Hacker-Klier, Übersetzerin
Norbert Bragoner, Rentner
Dr. Albrecht Jebens, Chefredakteur, Lektor und Autor
Samy Yildirim, Dipl. Phys.
Maria Pauli, Kunsthandwerkerin
Kurt Wirth, Dipl.-Kfm./Rentner
Elisabeth Woeckel, Theologin, Dozentin i. Brasilien, Syrien,
Sri Lanka, i. R.
Dr. Dirk-M. Harmsen, Physiker, Leitungskreis Forum
Friedensethik (FFE) in der Evangelischen Landeskirche in Baden
Flora Erler, Rentnerin
Irma Dillmann, Rentnerin
Jürgen Rose, Oberstleutnant a. D., Vorstandsmitglied des
Arbeitskreises Darmstädter Signal
Karl-Heinz Walloch, Dokumentarfilmer
René Pauli, Polizeibeamter
Esther Thomsen, Diplom-Theologin
Prof. Dr. Werner Ruf, Politikwissenschaftler
Wolfgang Reinicke-Abel, M.A. phil.päd., Kulturmanager
Christine Reinicke, M.A. , Schulleiterin
Dr. phil. Tatjana Weber, Diplomlehrerin für Russisch und
Geschichte
Erasmus Schöfer, 'Schriftsteller, Köln
Peter Bautsch, Rentner
Gudrun Rafeld, Rentnerin
Dr. Izzeddin Musa, Diplomgeologe i.R., Vorsitzender der
Gesellschaft zur Humanitären Unterstützung der Palästinenser e.V.
Dr.-Ing. Dietrich Schulze, Beiratsmitglied
NaturwissenschaftlerInnen-Friedensinitiative
Tobias Ganietz, Zimmerer
Hans Christange, Diplom-Jurist, Rentner, Partei DIE LINKE
Prof. Dr. Frank-Rainer Schurich, Publizist
Dr. Hassan Swelim, Physiker
Alexander Bese, Krankenpfleger
Olga Bese Betriebswirtin
Frank Skischus, Bundesausschuss Friedensratschlag, Kassel
Renate Schoof, Schriftstellerin
Ursula Schleier, Ärztin i.R.
Thomas Gotterbarm, Med. Dokumentar/Übersetzer
Rudolf Reddig, Historiker
Wolfgang Behr, Kartograf
Dr. George Alfred Kouchakji , Retired Medical
Microbiologist
Frank Skischus, Bundesausschuss Friedensratschlag, Kassel
Maria von Choltitz, Oberstudienrätin a.D., Bündnis90/Die
Grünen,Tochter des Eroberers der Krim und des Retters von Paris vor der
Zerstörung durch Hitler
Dr. Wolfgang Bittner, Schriftsteller
Dietrich Schulze,
Dr. Almuth Benzel,
Karin Hamacher,
Volker O´Barden,
Tobias Gdanietz-Zimmerer,
Dr. Bernd Bornemann
Gerhard Duemchen, Pfr. i.r.
Ole Chmilewski
Heinz Brüggemann
Günther Wilke, Journalist
Marianne Wilke
Erica Warncke
Marlen Goischke, Rentner
Maaten Slooves, Rentner
Wolfram Jasker
Irmgard Jasker
Helga Meyer
Brigitte v. Winterfeld, Rentnerin
Rainer Mehl, Rentner
Gesa Metzger
Inge Lüers
Valentin Bese, Bürokaufmann
Jochen Vogler, Rentner, Landessprecher der VVN-BdA NRW
Edgar Fries, Dipl.Ing. Stadtplaner/Rentner
Karl Schmidt, Pfarrer i.R.
Helmut Jaskolski, Lehrer i.R., Mitglied Pax Christi
Hanna Jaskolski
Michael Poost, Texter und Programmierer
Dr. Peter Kern, Professor a.D.
Andreas Winterhalder, Lehrer
Frithjof Newiak, Absolvent Staatliche Universität Charkow
/Ukraine
Sonja Newiak, ehemals Studierende in Charkow/Ukraine
Hans-Günther Schramm
Christoph, Paschke, EDV-Leiter
Mario Schweizer, technischer Betriebswirt
Susanne Wiesinger, Übersetzerin
Jochen Adolff, Grafikdesigner
Carsten Wölk, Rentner
Jessica Mayer, Mutter und Hausfrau
Dr. Rudolph Bauer, Prof. em.
Dipl.-Psych. Marianne Sörensen-Bauer, Psychotherapeutin
Florian Finke, angehender Student
Wolfgang Ney
Willy Wahl, Herausgeber d. Internet-Blogs Seniora.org
Margot Wahl
Klaus H. Jann, Roter Reporter
Dr. Bernd Bornemann, Kunsthistoriker, Kulturschaffender
Dipl.Ing. Ernst Dokter, VDI
Hans-Ulrich Bünger, Dipl.-Sozialwirt, Rentner
Michael Poost; Journalist
Sybille Maggraf, Literaturpädagogin
Holger Platta, Autor und Wissenschaftsjournalist
Edgar Fries
Anita Binz (Schweiz)
Ursula Schleier
Dr. theol. Holger Müller, Pfarrer, Beauftragter der
Evangelischen Landeskirche in Baden fürs Konstanzer Konzil-Jubiläum
Angelika Wolfrum-Daub, Physiotherapeutin
Peter G. Spengler, Redaktion Studien von Zeitfragen
Professor Dr. Hans-Christian Günther, Universität Freiburg
Ulrike Schramm, Kinderkrankenschwester
Werner Schramm, Erziehungswissenschaftler
Manfred Hausherr - Willmann, Selbständiger
Heinz A. Schammert, Erziehungsberater
Brigitte Brecht, Opernregisseurin
Katharina Bachmann, Vors. Die NaturFreunde OG Schopfheim e.
V.
Stefan Pertschi, Dessinateur
Udo Stampa, Richter am Landessozialgericht
Werner Heinlein, Justizbeamter i.R
Hans Christange
Inge Baumgart, Rentnerin
Christa Willich-Klein, Dipl.-Psychologin
Christine Ehrlenspiel, Oberstudienrätin i.R.
Dieter Anschütz, Oberstudienrat i.R.
Dr. Theresia Sauter-Bailliet, Rentnerin
Dr. med. Frank Baum, Facharzt f. Allgemeinmedizin, Klin.
Geriatrie (IPPNW, Verein demokr. Ärztinnen u. Ärzte, ver.di)
Michael Schoof, Rentner
Dr. Jürgen Koch
Uta Koch
Rainer Kluckhuhn, Lehrer a.D.
Dipl.-Biol. Doris Grunert, Fachärztin für Humangenetik,
Universität Bremen
Albert Haller
Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Herzig, Oberst a.D.
Helmut Rössler, Rentner
Jens Loewe, Unternehmer, Fa. Bormann & Loewe GbR
Gerhard Zwerenz, Schriftsteller
Ingrid Zwerenz, Autorin
Doris Schilling, Unternehmerin
Sebastian Zachow-Vierrath
Elke Minx Senior Mitglied der Linken
Eva Maria Müller, Diplom-Jurist
Eva Maria Müller, Diplom-Jurist
Udo Meurer, Industriemechaniker
Dr. Vera Hartlapp, Psychiaterin i.R.
Brigitte Rauscher
Peter Rauscher, Rentner
PD Dr. Hamid Reza Yousefi, Universität Trier
Günter Schroth, Erwachsenenbildner i.R.
CLAUDE GREGOIRE, Luxemburger Staatsbürger
Christa Oppermann, Rentnerin
Dietrich Hyprath, Dipl.-Ing. i.R.
Josef Gottschlich, Lehrer und Referent für Grundschule im
IRP Freiburg
Klaus-Dieter Mudra
Jörg Spannbauer, selbständiger Filmtheater Betreiber
Ernst Albers-Buttstaedt, Fachpfleger für Sozialpsychiatrie
i.R.
Stefan Buttstaedt, Verwaltungsangestellter i.R.
Dr. med. BG John Heinzow, Arzt/Umweltmedizin
Wolfgang Eschenbacher, Makroökonom
Andreas Gaube, Grafiker
Dipl. Ing. Dusan, Radakovic, Rentner
Peter Bäß, Pfarrer i.R.
Tatjana Heß, private Seniorenbereuerin
Gudrun Fenten, Chemotechnikerin i.R.
Klaus Fenten, Architekt i.R.
Anke Wetekamp, Lehrerin
Walter Mayer, Bibliothekar i.R.
Prof. Hermann Kendel,
Dipl.-Kfm. Christan Ottens, kaufm. Angestellter
Christine Green-Ottens, Diplom Sozialpädagogin
Dr. Christian Fischer, Beratender Ingenieur, öffentlich
bestellter und vereidigter Sachverständiger
Original article in German here:
http://www.nrhz.de/flyer/beitrag.php?id=20163
German media are being deluged
with readers and viewers complaints about the one-sided anti-Russian propaganda
being spouted on a daily basis:
On 19 March the editorial office
of the Berliner Zeitung was forced to admit: “German
newspapers and radio stations have received bags of letters and readers’
comments complaining about one-sided reporting. Russia’s intervention in the
Crimea has been met with a great deal of understanding. The German media, on
the other hand, is accused of conducting an anti-Russian campaign.”
The conservative Berliner
Tagesspiegel noted that 80 percent of the 12,000 readers who took part
in an on-line survey regarded official criticism of Moscow as “hypocritical”. A
mere 4 percent favored “military intervention by NATO,” or Russia’s exclusion
from the G8.
A poll by the ARD television
channel, released in early March, found that 82 percent of respondents were
against the use of military force against Russia. Two-thirds rejected economic
sanctions against Russia.
In letters and comments to
editorial offices, many readers and radio listeners refer to the active role
played by the US, EU and Berlin on Independence Square, which led to the coup
against the elected government in Kiev and the establishment of the illegal Junta
regime.
A reader of the Münchener
Merkur comments: “In my opinion, the demonstrations in Kiev, with
Klitschko to the fore, are controlled logistically and financially by the West
(i.e. US and Europe) – the former Treasury Secretary of US President Reagan
referred to $5 billion. Since the reintroduction of capitalism in Eastern
Europe the US has sought to weaken and isolate Russia, and eliminate it as a
superpower.”
The comment continues: “The US
and EU have now brought the Baltic States and almost all of the countries of
the former Eastern Bloc into NATO and the EU (contrary to agreements with the
former Soviet Union in 1990). Now they are going to move ahead with the
proposed admission of Ukraine, up to the western border of Russia, and provoke
the Russian Black Sea Fleet.”
Many readers complain of the
trivialisation of the role of the fascist Svoboda
party, and the assertion that the events in Kiev’s Independence Square had
something to do with democracy. A number of reports and YouTube videos
available on the Internet clearly reveal the role played by ultra-violent
fascist forces.
See also:
See also:
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