U.S. Refuses to Annex Russian Federation

Dear Friend

THE UNITED STATES MUST LEAD THE WAY IN REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE OR LEGITIMIZE THE ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION!
PRESIDENT PUTIN’S UNDERMINING OF UKRAINE, BEGINNING WITH THE ILLEGAL ANNEXATON OF CRIMEA DESERVES CODEMNATION BY THE INERNATIONAL COMMUNNITY AND STRICT AND EFFECTIVE SANCTIONS.

Failing to do so sets a dangerous precedent for the forcible takeover of sovereign countries.

Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) have introduced in the House of Representatives Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act ( H.R 5241 ) prohibiting federal agencies from taking any action that recognizes or implies recognition of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace and its territorial waters.

H.R. 5241 takes the decisive action that this situation requires. Without a clear stance on the issue of Crimea we only encourage Putin’s further aggression and interference in eastern Ukraine.

The historical analog to this policy would be the U.S. not extending recognition of de jure or de facto Russian sovereignty over the Baltic countries during the Cold War.

You may view the resolution on the Internet at Thomas library of congress.

We urge you to contact your Representative to ask for his or her support of this simple and straight forward measure by signing on as a cosponsor of H.R.5241. To sign on as a cosponsor contact Collin Davenport tel.: (202) 225-1492, E-mail:( collin.davenport@mail.house.gov ) in Representatives Connolly’s office or Chris Hess (chris.hess@mail.house.gov ), tel.: (202) 225-2216 in Representative Chabot’s office.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Valdis Pavlovskis
Acting President


Sell Warships to Nato Not Russia

PRESIDENT:BARACK OBAMA: TEL: (202) 456-1111, (202) 456-1414

SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ: TEL: (202) 224-4744, FAX: (202) 228-2197

CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121, INTERNET: Thomas Library of Congress

Responding to intense international pressure, France suspended the delivery of two Mistral class aircraft carrier assault warships under contract to Russia. The announcement stopped short of cancelling the sale, suggesting that a change in Russia’s behavior and handling of the Ukraine crisis could pave the way for delivery at a later date.

I am proud to say that BAFL members were right there in front of the “international pressure” aggressively informing our government and Congress of the dangerous consequences on Russia’s coastal neighbors. BAFL was fighting the sale way before the contract between France and Russia was signed in 2011.

The halting of the delivery of the warships is a significant road block to Russia’s naval expansion program. Acquiring the warships would give a tremendous boost to Russia’s naval capabilities and\would provide Russia with a technology to eventually develop additional state-of-art aircraft carriers. It would have been preferable had France outright cancelled the sale. As it stands now, at some point Russia may still lay her hands on the two warships.

Control of the coastal countries on the Baltic and Black Seas is a strategic priority for Moscow. The versatile state-of-the-art Mistral amphibious aircraft assault ships would provide Russia with an offensive capability that she has never had before. It would surely make her the dominant power of the Baltic or Black Seas.

A Mistral class war ship can carrr and can simultaneously deploy, in half an hour, 700 combat equipped troops, 13 tanks, 70 armored vehicles and 16 heavy helicopters. It has a 150 person command and communications center. It is armed with anti-aircraft weapons and long range, rapid fire artillery. France has no guarantee how the ships will be used. Putin, his generals and admirals, have stated that they will use the ships as they feel is necessary.

Moscow has proclaimed its right to attack any of its neighbors whenever it can fabricate an excuse for doing so. Given Russia’s track record, it is clear that Putin is intent on subjugating, intimidating and occupying its former Soviet territories. And he plans to do it with the help of the French warships.

Putin wants not only to destroy the post-1989 European settlement, but he also wants to overturn the state boundaries, including those of the Baltic nations. So far, he has sought bases in Serbia, Montenegro, fermented conflicts in Moldova, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Georgia, as well as Nagomo-Karabakh. He has also annexed former provinces of Georgia, Crimea and is at war with Ukraine.

The Baltic countries have contributed robustly and bravely to the Alliance’s operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. It is imperative that the United States and NATO stop the sale of the warships. There is a way to do this, provided that U.S. and NATO officials and politicians think outside the box. SELL THE WARSHIPS TO NATO NOT RUSSIA.

THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ASSUME LEADERSHIP AND PROPOSE TO NATO ALLIES TO COLLECTIVELY BUY THE MISTRAL WARSHIPS AND MAKE THEM COMMON ASSETS DEDICATED TO THE NATO RAPID RESPONSE FORCE.

Arming an adversary is not only a grave mistake, it is unbelievably stupid, especially in the case of Russia–a nation that is led by a lying, cunning and utterly amoral dictator. A dictator who views the NATO Alliance and European Union as enemies and openly laments the break up of the Soviet Union.

Acquisition of the Mistral warships will absolutely revolutionize the maritime component of the Alliance and directly enhance NATO’s operability within the Baltic and Black Seas. All 28 member nations could contribute naval and marine personnel to augment the warships’ crew, command and control staff and the marine detachment. If greater NATO naval integration is an operational goal, then the acquisition of the Mistral ships could be counted as a win-win situation for NATO.

At a time when many within Europe believe that these are the last days of NATO, purchasing the warships would have a powerful positive effect on NATO’s spirit and morale. It will also encourage the East European members to increase their budgets to NATO.

Furthermore, a NATO purchase of the Mistral ships would deliver an unmistakable and meaningful rebuke of Russia’s military adventurism in Ukraine. It would show Russians and other would be aggressors that military adventurism and aggression carry economic and military costs. And it would send the strongest signal yet that the days of political timidity to Russia’s aggressive attempts to establish a new European order are over.

Most of all the purchase would prevent a powerful military capability from falling into the hands of an assertive and belligerent Russia. It will bolster NATO’s capabilities and demonstrate political solidarity among NATO allies. Also, friends like Georgia and Ukraine would be relieved to see that the ships would not become a part of the Russian navy.

This would not be the first time NATO purchased and operated its own assets. NATO has purchased and operated the research ship NRV Alliance as well as the oceanographic tender CRV Leonardo. NATO also operates a fleet of E-3 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft and a force of C-17 cargo aircraft, operated by multi-national crew members. The U.S. Navy has also experimented with mixed multi-national crews. Results have been satisfactory.

Germany has already taken a stance on arms deals with Russia. Berlin has suspended a contract to build a combat training facility for Russia worth around $120 million.

I AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONTACT THE PRESIDENT AND KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ASK NATO TO BUY THE TWO WARSHIPS FROM FRANCE.

PERSONS TO CONTACT:

President Barack Obama: Tel.Comment and Message Center: (202) 456.-1111, (202) 457-1414

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee: Tel: (202)224-4744, Fax (202) 228-2197

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), Ranking Member of Foreign Relations Committee European Affairs: Tel: (202) 22-4944, Fax(202-228-0566

Senator Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Chairman Subcommittee on European Affairs: Tel: (202) 224-4041, Fax (202) 224-9750

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member Subcommittee on European Affairs: Tel: (202) 224- 5323, Fax: (202) 228-6965

Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Member Foreign Relations Committee: Tel: (202) 224-2235, Fax (202) 228-0515.

Senator Benjamin Cardin Chairman, (D-MD). Subcommittee on European Affairs, Tel: (202) 224-4524, Fax: 224-1654

Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee: Tel: (202) 235-4111, Fax: (202)226-0335

Representative Elliot Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member Foreign Affairs Committee, Tel: (202) 225-2464, Fax: (202) 225-5531

Representative John D. Shimkus (R-IL), Co-chairman Baltic Caucus, Tel: (202) 225-5271, Fax (202) 225-5880.

Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), Co-chairman Baltic Caucus, Tel: (202) 225-4176, Fax: (202) 225-5828

Secretary of State John Kerry, Tel: (703) 6992-7100, Fax (202) 647-3344

Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Do you want Russian Marines off Baltic shores or American Marines? It is up to. Thank you.

Sincerely, Valdis V.Pavlovskis

Acting President

September 11, 2014


Number 3

BACKGROUND AND TALKING POINTS
France is about to sell two Mistral class assault aircraft carriers to Russia, a country that will not hesitate to use these powerful ships to intimidate and impose her will on her neighbors or to forcefully occupy them. Georgia, Ukraine and the persistent threatening of her neighbors, confirms President Putin’s intent to recover former Soviet territories and bring them back under Russian rule.

President Putin claims to abide by notions of stability, the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of international disputes, yet he has violated the sovereignty of two of his neighbors, committed war crimes, broken treaties and international law, including the U.N. Charter and the NATO-Russia Founding Act. He is also waging a propaganda war, much of it directed at the west, not seen since the Cold War. Arming an amoral, anarchistic and brutish geopolitical foe with major weapons that may be used against NATO allies is not suitable nor wise. Having this done by a member of NATO is outrageous.

The two warships are offensive weapons, specifically built for invasions. They are the length of more than two football fields. They can carry 16 heavy or 35 light helicopters, landing crafts, 40 to 60 armored personnel carriers, 13 tanks and about 800 troops. The deck can also be used by vertical takeoff jets. This means that high performance fighters could support the invading forces. The ships have an advanced, sensitive, high tech communications system that can serve as a mobile command center. The ships are capable of performing all these function simultaneously. With two Mistral carriers in its arsenal, the Russian navy will be able to drop a reinforced regiment of marines, tanks and armored vehicles on any coastline within 6000 miles of its home port without refueling, provide helicopter support for the landing forces, and orchestrate the entire operations from the ship’s advanced command center.

WHEN THE POTENT HELICOPTER PUNCH IS COMBINED WITH THE SHIP’S TROOP LANDING CAPABILITIES, THE MATRIAL CLASS ASSAULT SHIPS OFFER RUSSIA A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS. THEY ARE PERFECT WEAPONS TO SUPPORT PUTIN’S EXPANSION POLICIES.

James G. Stavridis, a retired admiral who served as the NATO top commander from 2009 to 2013 stated: “The technology and capability represented by the Mistral [ships] should NOT be passed to a Russian Federation that continues to threaten its neighbors.”

Since June, 400 Russian sailors have been training in France to learn to run the assault warships. The ships are to be delivered to Russia in October of this year.

The delivery will open the door to other NATO allies such as Spain, Italy and Germany to make arms deals with Russia and other unfriendly powers.

President Putin argues that he has a signed contract with the French government; therefore, France cannot break it. However, the sanctity of contracts on which he now insists, did not bother him when he maliciously violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and borders.

Western officials have pressured France not to deliver the ships to Russia. But despite protests from the Baltic countries, Poland, Georgia, Ukraine and the President of the United States, France has held firm, claiming that breaking the contract would lead to serious financial loss and endanger jobs of several thousands of workers. The price for the two warships is $1.6 billion dollars of which Russia has already paid more than half. Should the sale be canceled, the French government would have to return the deposit, with additional penalty charges for breaking the contract.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that “such a sale would be unthinkable in Britain” after the downing of the Malaysian Airlines plane.

The President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, declared that “Values and security are undermined for the sake of business, when ‘buy and rule’ policy is being applied,'” suggesting that Moscow is using its purchasing power to insure the sale.

The Baltic countries, Poland, Georgia and Ukraine, likely targets of President Putin’s empire building scheme, are outraged and strenuously object to enhancing Russia’s offensive and bullying capabilities. None of the countries trust Russia. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsi said in an interview with La Monde: “We [Western governments] have determined Russia to be the aggressor in Crimea and I do not think France would want to be in the position of supplying efficient weapons to an aggressor.”

According to Baltic defense officials, the presence of the warships in the Baltic Sea will seriously impact the balance of military capabilities of the Baltic countries and Poland, with Russian naval forces clearly gaining additional strength in terms of speed, range, maneuverability and fire power. This will necessitate additional assets and coastal defenses by NATO allies which may exceed easily the cost of the two Mistral ships.

The U.S. Congress has generally opposed the sale of the warships to Russia. The House of Representatives in the current session passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015 that expresses the Sense of Congress in opposition to the sale. In introducing the amendment, Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) stated: “These warships would allow the Russian navy to expand its naval presence in the region thereby aiming its capabilities against Ukraine, Georgia and Baltic countries.”

In the Senate, a bipartisan letter by six Senators appealed to the President of France, Francois Hollande, to cancel the delivery of the ships and urged him to take a unified stand against Moscow’s aggression. The group wrote that new weapon sales to Moscow by Paris would only bolster Russian military capabilities, especially its ability to project power. The letter was signed by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Co-chairman of the Baltic Caucus, Christopher Murphy (D-CT), a member of the Baltic Caucus, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

Recently, a bipartisan letter was sent to President Barack Obama by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and William Keating (D-MA). In the letter the Congresspersons urged the President to “strongly oppose’ the sale of the warships to Russia and to use the facilities of his office to convince Paris and our NATO allies to STOP ALL military sales to Russia, including the French Mistral warships. The President and the Secretary of State have expressed clear and unequivocal opposition to the sale.

As wrong as it is for France to be arming Russians with major weapons that could one day be used against NATO allies, it is short sighted to dismiss France’s concern about the impact that loss of the sale– $1.6 Billion–will have on its economy, especially the labor market. NATO should be working with France to find ways of mitigating the loss of the deal.

Recently, several Congresspersons have suggested that NATO purchase the two Mistral warships as an collective asset for NATO use. Representative Eliot, L. Engel (D-Mt. Vernon, Bronx, NY). Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined by Representatives Michael Turner (R-Dayton, OH), the Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and William Keating (D-New Bedford, Plymouth, MA), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, in a letter to the Secretary General of NATO called on NATO allies to work with France to stop the sale of the warships and urged NATO to purchase or lease the ships as common naval assets for the alliance.

They wrote “…the purchase would send a strong signal to President Putin that the NATO allies will not tolerate or in any way enable his reckless moves. In addition, such a purchase would rapidly enhance NATO capabilities at a moment when many Allies have been cutting defense expenditures and greatly reassure Alliance members and partners in Central and Eastern Europe who feel most vulnerable…” (The letter is posted on BAFL’s website.)

A NATO buy is logical and precisely the kind of unified political response that Europe needs. Not only could it be a way of providing a financial and political exit strategy for Paris, but it would also give Europe, most notably NATO Europe, a tremendous boost to solidarity and at the same time show COLLECTIVE STRENGTH TOWARDS RUSSIA. It would kill two birds with one stone. Furthermore, Washington has been urging NATO allies to spend more on their own defense. This would be a good place to start.

It is a workable solution. Already NATO naval personnel regularly cross train on allied ships. NATO airborne AWAC, early warning aircraft, fly in consortium. It is the Alliances largest collaborative venture and is an excellent example of what NATO achieves by pooling resources and working together. The European Union is currently discussing obtaining and operating C-17 aircraft.

BAFL has actively and vigorously participated in this important endeavor to stop the sale of the ships and to solicit support for the sale of the ships to NATO. During the month of June, we met with staff members of twenty key Congresspersons to discuss this matter, sent letters to our President, the President of France, the French Ambassador to America and faxed over 70 letters to key Congressperson. This is our third “Call of Action” letter to our members and friends. OUR EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING, BUT WE DESPERATLY NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE JOIN US.

CALL TO ACTION

BAFL supports the SALE of the Mistral ships to NATO. But what is MOST IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL IS THAT THE SALE TO RUSSIA IS STOPED.AND THAT THE SHIIPS DO NOT FALL INTO RUSSAN HANDS.

I AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGE YOU TO CONTACT THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS LISTED BELOW TO CONVINCE OUR NATO ALLIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, TO PURCHASE OR LEASE THE TWO WARSHIPS FROM FRANCE.

Really Now! How much time would it take for you to make a phone call of to send a few e-mails or to fax a few letters? Not much! But the results might be tremendous. So again, please contact the President and as many of the key persons listed below as possible.

If the United States does not initiate the sale to Allies, then no one else will. This is why you need to contact the President. He is our TOP PRIORITY. He has to start the ball rolling. Remember, we do not have much time, the French government will make the final decision whether to go ahead or to cancel the sale early in October. The first warship is scheduled to sail for Russia in November.

It might help you to check BAFL’s website for instructions on how to communicate with Congress and view sample letters. WE SUGGEST THAT YOU FAX YOUR LETTERS.

Order of Priority on Who to Contact:

President Barack Obama: Telephone Comment and Message Center:(202) 456-1111. Postal mail is too slow. Because of security measures, it will take about a month for the letter to be delivered to the White House and the same goes for Congress.

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Tel(202)224-4744, Fax(202) 228-2197

Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Bob Corker (R-TN), Tel. (202)224-4944,Fax (202)228-0566

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: Ed Royce (R-CA), Tel.(202)225-4111, Fax.(202)226-0335

Ranking Member House Foreign Affairs Committee: Elliot Engel (D-NY), Tel.(202)225-2464,Fax(202)225-5531

Chairwoman of Senate Appropriations Committee: Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Tel:(202)224-4654,Fax(202)334-8858,

Co-chairman of Senate Baltic Caucus: Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tel.(202)224-2152,Fax228-0400,

Chairman of U.S, Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Association: Michael Turner (R-OH), Tel.(202)225-6465, Fax(202)225-6754,

Co-chairman of the House Baltic Caucus: John Shimkus (R-IL), Tel.(202)225-5271,Fax(202)225-5880

Co-chairman of House Baltic Caucus:Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tel.(202)225-4176,Fax(202)225-5828

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee: Carl Levin (D-MI), Tel.(202)224-6221,Fax(202)228-0036

Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee: James M. Inhofe (R-OK), Tel.(202)224-4721, Fax(202)228-0380

Your Congressperson: Capitol Switchboard (202)224-3121, Internet: Thomas Library of Congress

Secretary of Defense: Chuck Hagel, Tel.(703)692-7100

Secretary of State: John Kerry, Tel: (202)647-5291, Fax(202)647-3344

After you have done your part, please pass the letter to others. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Valdis V. Pavlovskis – Acting President

Valdisp@aol.com

July 12, 2014


Number 2

France is preparing to train hundreds of Russian seamen to operate a powerful French made warship this month, defying calls from the U.S. and other Western allies to keep the vessels out of Kremlin hands. (The Wall Street Journal – 6/4/14)

BACKGROUND

Russia has purchased four Mistral class amphibious assault helicopter carrier warships. The ships are near the top of their class of weapons. They can deploy 800 fully equipped combat troops (about the size of a reinforced battalion), 13 main tanks or 70 assault vehicles, 16 heavy helicopters, two hovercraft, four large landing crafts and have a command and communications center for a staff of 150 persons. They are armed with anti-aircraft weapons systems and rapid firing artillery. Mistral class warships are a powerful force for amphibious landings, anti-submarine warfare and helicopter operations. Mistral warships can perform multiple tasks at the same time: receive helicopters, land helicopters, land troops, act as a command post and a floating hospital. The Mistrals will give Russian military forces unprecedented mobility and maneuverability. They are built for power projection from the sea and air. President Putin stated that: “We will reserve the right to use them where and when we consider necessary.”

The first ship will be completed and turned over to Russia in October. The second Mistral class ship is still being built and will be completed and delivered in 2015. The other two Mistral ships will be built in Russia with assistance from French technicians. The total cost for the four ships is $1.6 billion.

In addition to the warships, Russia has also purchased French technology for the combat information control and communications systems.

The Mistral warships present a serious danger to the security and stability of Russia’s maritime neighbors who have strenuously opposed the sale without any success. The French government, however, declines, to cancel the sale.

The main reason not to cancel the sale is economic. France has high unemployment, especially in the ship building industry. There are 400 jobs directly at stake at the shipyard and another 1400 jobs depend on the contract. In addition the French government has a 33 percent share in the shipyard which means 33 percent of the profits go to the French government.

Government officials in Paris suggest that the only circumstances in which France might reconsider the sale would be an agreement with its NATO allies to move to deeper “third stage sanctions” against Russia, in such sectors as energy, defense and finance. The French resist any idea that they take a unilateral hit. The French view is that all members of the Alliance should share in the hardships resulting from sanctions. The French government will make a final decision on the sale in October, when the first vessel is ready for delivery.

BALTIC AMERICAN FREEDOM LEAGUE ACTIONS

Ever since the French intention to sell Mistral warships to Russia became known in 2011, the Baltic American Freedom League has consistently opposed the sale. The League has written letters to the President of the United States of America, the Department of State, the Department of Defense and has contacted congresspersons urging them to have the French government cancel the sale. Recently, I spent several days in Washington meeting with some 20 Congresspersons and/or their staff members urging them to pressure France to cancel the contract with Russia.

BAFL recommends that the United States or NATO purchase or lease the warships from France. Other actions that the United States could take are: 1) recall home the Ambassador to France for consultation and urge other NATO countries to do the same; 2) urge our government officials, congresspersons, members and delegates to international organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to more vigorously raise the issue in the respective organizations; and 3) call an emergency session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to discuss this issue.

It seems that everyone in the government and congress is following and monitoring the situation, but that no one, except for a handful of congress persons is working on a solution.

The West has consistently underestimated the extent to which President Putin means what he says. They fail to grasp Russia’s threat to its neighbors and the world.

CALL TO ACTION

AS IT STANDS NOW, THE SITUATION LOOKS BLEAK. THE CHANCE THAT THE SHIPS WILL NOT BE DELIVERED ARE WELL BELOW FIFTY-FIFTY. BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD NOT TRY TO CHANGE THE ODDS. BAFL HOPES THAT YOU WILL JOIN THE EFFORT AND DO YOUR PART TO STOP RUSSIAN WARSHIPS FROM PATROLLING THE BALTIC SEA.

Please call the President and contact your senators and representative to ask them to stop the delivery of the warships to Russia.

President Barack Obama: Telephone (202) 456-1414
Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Congresspersons on Internet: Thomas.LibraryofCongress

Secretary of State John Kerry: Tel (202) 647-5291

National Security Advisor Susan Rice: Tel (202) 456-9491, Fx (202) 456-9150

Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Robert Mendez (D-NJ):Tel (202) 224-4744, Fx (202) 228-2197

Ranking Member Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Bob Corker (R-TN): Tel (202) 224-4944, Fx (202) 228-0566

Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee: Ed Royce (R-CA): Tel (202) 225-4111, Fx (202) 226-0335

Ranking.Member Foreign Affairs.Committee: Elliot Engel (D-NY):Tel (202) 225-2464, Fx (202) 225-5531

REASONS FOR STOPPING THE SALE

*** If delivered, the Mistral warships will augment the Russian military’s capabilities against the very nations that now appear to be the most vulnerable to the Kremlin’s pressure–namely Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic countries.

*** By proceeding with the delivery of the Mistral warships to Russia, France is turning a blind eye to Russia’s war against Georgia in 2008, the war against Ukraine and the occupation of Crimea. These wars, the political statements and threats by President Putin to Russia’s neighbors are convincing evidence of his intentions to reconstruct the borders of the late Soviet Union.

*** It is intolerable for a NATO ally to sell major hi-tech weapons to a potential adversary, a country that views NATO as a principal threat. Russia has repeatedly demonstrated its intentions and capacity to threaten America’s interests in Europe by providing cover for Iran’s nuclear weapons program; by selling high-end conventional weapons to Iran, Syria and others; using Russia’s oil and gas to intimidate Europe; by launching war on Georgia and Ukraine; and the occupation of Crimea.

*** Warships on the periphery of the Baltic countries, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria will provide Russia with means to bully, terrify and intimidate its seacoast neighbors. It is not hard to imagine the impact that an amphibious landing task force patrolling or anchored off shore will have on a country’s political process and economic development.

*** The state-of-the-art warships will give Russia a significant, unprecedented offensive capability to project its power and will seriously upset the balance of military capabilities in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions.

*** According to senior Baltic defense officials, the presence of the warships in the Baltic Sea would seriously impact the balance of military capabilities in the Baltic Sea countries, with Russian forces clearly gaining additional strength in terms of numbers, speed and range. This would necessitate building coastal defense capabilities.

*** The Russian naval forces are not capable of global action against the U.S. Navy or combined western navies. Therefore, Mistral class amphibious landing warships are considered regional ships meant for regional operations.

*** The two other Mistral warships will be built in Russia with the help from French technicians. The Mistral class warship is not just a modern ship. It also utilizes very high-tech sensitive communications systems, and ship manufacturing and naval architecture. In addition to security questions, building the ships in Russia will rejuvenate Russia’s crashed and wrecked warship building industry.

*** The technology and capability represented by the Mistral warships should not be passed to a country that has recently attacked two of its neighbors and continues to bully and threaten its other neighbors.

*** If NATO tolerates the Mistral sale and delivery, then other member countries may scramble for bilateral weapon deals with Russia. NATO needs to deal with the Mistral case pro-actively, before any fait accompli precedent is set. If NATO fails on this, then the entire issue of arms sales to Russia and other potential adversaries will spin out of the Alliance’s control.

*** The limited measures taken by NATO allies in Russia’s war against Ukraine might lead President Putin to think that the West will, in the long run, tolerate hostile action against the Baltic countries, Poland and the Black Sea countries.

*** United States should seek international organizations such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO Parliamentary Assembly and European Union to take strong action against nations who violate the borders of sovereign nations.

*** An agreement by NATO or the United Sates to buy or lease the warships would send a strong signal to President Putin that the NATO allies will not tolerate or enable reckless moves and violations of the rights of sovereign nations.

*** Buying or leasing the four ships to NATO or the U.S. is a clear solution to the problem.

UPDATE

A bipartisan letter was recently sent to President Barack Obama by Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Bill Keating (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). The letter urged the President to oppose the sale of the Mistral warships to Russia. The Congressmen wrote that “Members of the NATO Alliance cannot continue to arm Russia — let alone to arm her with hi-tech military equipment that will only abet its efforts to undermine Eastern European governments that aspire to be modern European democracies”, and called on the President to “demand” that France suspend the sale of these two Mistral ships.

Another bipartisan letter was sent to the Secretary General of NATO, Andera Fock Rassmussen, by Representative Elliot Engel (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He was joined by Representatives Michael Turner (R-OH), Chairman of U.S. delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly and William Keating (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on European Affairs. The letter called on the Secretary to stop the sale of the Mistral ships to Russia. The legislators urged NATO to purchase or lease the Mistral warships as common NATO naval assets for the Alliance. “NATO should seize this opportunity to strengthen its own assets while at the same time denying Russia this additional capability,” the legislators wrote.

The sale of the Mistral warships to Russia presents a threatening and dangerous situation to the Baltic countries and Russia’s other maritime neighbors. I hope that you will recognize this and join us in our effort to stop the sale. Time is of essence. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Thank you.

Valdis Pavlovskis

Acting President


The Delivery of The Two Warships to Russia

Dear Balts and Friends,

The delivery of the two warships to Russia will present serious danger and instability to Russia’s maritime neighbors along the Baltic and Black seas, including, of course, the Baltic counties.

The two French warships will give Russia a significant and unprecedented offensive capability in the region, with Russian forces gaining superior strength in terms of speed and range. Advantages that NATO forces will have difficulty to match.

It will also provide the Russians a terrific opportunity to harass, terrify and bully its maritime neighbors and thus to interfere in their domestic affairs.

By proceeding with the delivery, France is turning a blind eye to Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia, and recent occupation of Crimea, and the continuous conflict in Ukraine. In fact, French politicians have taken a flippant attitude to the delivery.

The Mistral aircraft carriers can carry 16 helicopters and have a flight deck for six helicopters and eight assault transport helicopters. The ships carry four landing crafts, 70 armored vehicles and up to 500 troops. Each ship is equipped with advanced communications. The Russian Admiral Vysotsky said that Russia would have won the war against Georgia in 2008 in “40 minutes instead in 26 hours” if it had these ships back then.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NATO MEMBER TO OFFER SUPPORT TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY AT A TIME THAT MOSCOW IS ACTIVELY ATTEMPTING TO DISMEMBER UKRAINE, A SOVEREIGN NATION, AND UNDERMINE THE SECURITY OF THE BALTIC COUNTRIES.

The United States government must make it clear that it views any support to the Russian military as completely unacceptable in light of Russian aggression.

WE ASK YOU TO CALL PRESIDENT OBAMA TO URGE HIM TO REQUEST FRANCE TO CANCEL THE DELIVERY OF THE WARSHIPS TO RUSSIA, RECALL OUR AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE BACK HOME FOR CONSULTATIONS, AND URGE OTHER NATO COUNTRIES TO DO THE SAME.

Please call the President immediately, as he is leaving for France in a few of days.

The White House telephone number for comments and messages is (202) 456-1111. Calls are accepted M-F from 9 AM to 5 PM, Washington time. THANK YOU.

Valdis Pavlovskis
Director