The European Union actively joins in secret Russian-American fight for Crimea. On the eve of days off on a site of the Ukrainian government there was a short information that right after presidential election in Ukraine of EU there will begin program realisation «the Joint initiative of Commonwealth in Crimea» which includes investment projects in all economic and social spheres of the Ukrainian autonomy.

Experts consider that direct financial injections in the Crimean economy can displace accents in public opinion of Crimeans: from support of Russia on loyalty of EU.

Officials of the Ukrainian government specify that already developed plan of action of the European countries in Crimea will be confirmed in the spring of 2010. Now it is a question that separate directions of development of Crimea will be fixed to each of the European Union countries: beyond Great Britain — economy, beyond Sweden — ecology, beyond the Netherlands — a civil society. Now Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania are ready to take part in the project and, probably, Estonia also. The cabinet of Ukraine counts that next year within the limits of this initiative to Crimea will arrive to 12 million euro of investments. Officials specify that except EU means the separate countries plan to direct own money for development of the Ukrainian autonomy, and also to involve under the guarantees of the investment of the international organisations. The representative of Eurocommission in this project Gunnar Vigand who has carried on recently negotiations with the Ukrainian government, has informed that Crimea, from the point of view of EU, — «extremely important region which has powerful potential for all Europe». He has specified that the program is calculated till 2013, and Crimea is considered as «pilot region» on which base regional strategy of development will be developed. Creation of agency of regional development is in the long term planned. The European week of local democracy in which course representatives of EU have possibility to get acquainted with autonomy local authorities became original investigation declared on this week in Crimea.

For Ukraine the new project in Crimea means prompt rapprochement with the European Union and new level of development, the first vice-premier of the Ukrainian government Alexander Turchinov considers. «This project is really important to the Ukrainian government and Yulia Timoshenko on election campaign start, after all possibility to show is represented that Crimea — the Ukrainian territory that Ukraine is attractive», — the head of Institute of name Gorshenin, Konstantin Bondarenko has confirmed «NG». He has noticed that in 2002-2003 of the offer on joint development of peninsula the Ukrainian power in the name of Leonid Kuchma offered Russia. «However Russians not so actively work, at least it is impossible to tell that Crimeans have felt economic results of this activity. It seems that the rate has been made on policy, and slogans won’t be full», — the expert considers.

This opinion was confirmed «NG» with the first vice-president of the Sevastopol city state administration Vladimir Kazarin: «it is Already obvious that the Russian side loses competition for influence in Crimea.

Struggle is conducted first of all for public opinion. Not secret that as the basic competitors Russia and the USA earlier acted, the European Union which stakes not on policy, and on investment programs »is now connected. Kazarin has noticed that the exit of the powerful financial player on the Crimean field occurs while the Russian side hands over positions.« Now we see that else seemed a year ago inconceivable: at staff BF the Russian Federation the former employees carry out actions and arrange pickets with the Antirussian slogans. Probably, Russian power not about all is informed and not up to the end understands, what long-playing political consequences will have present financial problems of fleet when reduction of eight thousand employees prepares, from them about thousand — officers; when the fleet detains the salary, doesn’t pay municipal payments to city, accumulates debts before the Pension fund. Situation really very heavy. And if there will be someone who will solve economic problems not only inhabitants of Sevastopol, and all Crimea, — inhabitants of peninsula will be, of course, grateful. Clearly, on whose party the public opinion »will be inclined, — he has told about situation.

The Ukrainian political scientists pay attention to that fact that the USA too have not refused struggle for Crimea. If even in the spring under the pressure of the public and because of the protest of local authorities the question on opening of diplomatic representatives or information centre of the USA in Simferopol has been postponed, now the project has had new development. However, it is a question already of opening of Consulate general of the USA in Crimea. Probably, Americans have decided to operate in accuracy, as earlier Russia that the Crimean power could not object. In the beginning of summer in interview «NG» the head of Security service of Ukraine Valentina Nalivajchenko has informed that Washington will return to a question on representation in Crimea, and has specified:« Problems have arisen, in my opinion, that the Crimean power is groundless politized a question of opening of the American representation. And it was an error. We all see fine results of work in Crimea of Consulate general of the Russian Federation. Diplomats — behind them the Russian business, the capital have come, economic cooperation has amplified. After all the consulate helps them, advises, solves set of problems. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, from its part, has obliged local authorities to promote consulate of the Russian Federation ».

The head of the international programs of the Center of a name Razumkov, Valery Chalyj doubts that at Americans all will be as smoothly, as in due time at Russians. He notices that inhabitants of Crimea still with watchfulness concern any initiatives of the USA on peninsula. EU initiatives, on the contrary, are not perceived in Crimea as politically justified, and therefore can be successfully realised and supported local population, the expert predicts. He has noticed that before EU has already begun pilot projects of cooperation in other difficult regions of Ukraine — first of all on Donbass where orientation to cooperation with Russia also prevailed till now.

Political scientists notice that the Russian side now opposes nothing to the western projects. Even representatives of the Prorussian organisations of Crimea complain of absence of support. Last week representatives of Russian community of Crimea, party «Russian block», the organisations «Russian Crimea», «the Taurian union», «Belief», «the Civil active of Crimea», «Russian youth centre of Crimea» have created coordination council for consolidation and development of strategy of joint actions on protection «legitimate rights and interests Russian and Russian-cultural Crimeans».

One of participants of this association has told «NG» that necessity for protection is obvious, as «the Ukrainian power and its western partners have headed for replacement of the Russian organisations and the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Federation — on the quiet crisis». He considers not as casual coincidence that fact that discussion of the European investment initiatives passed against the new scandals connected with basing of fleet. The Ukrainian mass-media have informed one of these days on a secret re-deployment of the Russian parts — ostensibly for participation in maneuvers and doctrines concerning which the Ukrainian power has not been informed. Representatives of the nationalist organisations have urged the Ukrainian power to confiscate military technology BF because of infringement of conditions of basing in Crimea.

The Ukrainian experts notice that Moscow in a pointed manner does not pay attention neither to new scandals round fleet, nor to those Ukrainian organisations which incur a role of conductors and defenders of the Russian interests. Thus political scientists consider that in an economic crisis no political actions really have sense: to change public opinion economic projects which give work, the salary and confidence of tomorrow are capable only. On EU this field can change not only Russia, but also the USA. While superstates are occupied by the decision of own problems, the European Union can become the most influential player in Crimea, political scientists suppose.

Tatyana Ivjenko, Kiev

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