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AN AMERICAN MONITOR with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe died yesterday after a mission patrol vehicle hit a landmine in the Russian-backed separatist east, eliciting sharp words towards Moscow from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
It marked the first loss for the security body’s Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) since Europe’s only current war broke out more than three years ago.
The OSCE’s announcement about the US monitor’s death saw Kiev and the insurgents quickly trade blame over who was at fault for one of the most diplomatically sensitive episodes in a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.
The deputy head of the OSCE monitoring mission said the patrol consisted of six members who were travelling in two armoured vehicles near the village of Pryshyb in a rebel-run region of the separatist fiefdom of Lugansk.
“The explosion resulted in the death of an OSCE patrol member, a citizen of the United States,” Alexander Hug told reporters in Kiev.
He also said two others — a German and a Czech national — were wounded and “undergoing further evaluation” in a Lugasnk hospital.
The OSCE said it would not release the names of the casualties until their families had been notified.
“We are determined to continue to implement our mandate,” Hug stressed.
‘Obstacle’ to better ties
Tillerson in a phone conversation Sunday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Moscow’s actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle to improved US-Russian ties, the State Department said.
“Secretary Tillerson phoned Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today to discuss his recent trip to Moscow and his message to the Russian leadership that, although the United States is interested in improving relations with Russia, Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle,” said acting spokesman Mark Toner.
The statement said Tillerson accepted Poroshenko’s “condolences” for the death of the American.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the blast underscored the need for the warring sides to “finally respect” a long-ignored ceasefire agreement negotiated by Moscow and Kiev with the help of Paris and Berlin in February 2015.
“The separatists supported by Russia who illegally occupy part of Ukrainian territory by violence have a special responsibility here,” Merkel said in a strongly-worded statement.
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said the incident was a “reminder of the urgent need for progress on a peaceful resolution of the conflict”.
Both Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of plotting and backing the fighting in reprisal for the February 2014 ouster of Ukraine’s Kremlin-backed leadership.
Russia denies this and in turn accuses the US State Department of fomenting the 2013-14 street protests that ended up allying ex-Soviet Ukraine with the West.
The OSCE team’s 600 members in eastern Ukraine are the only independent monitoring mission in the devastated industrial war zone.
They provide daily reports on the fighting and have drawn the insurgents’ ire for accusing them of being responsible for most violations of the truce deal.
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Two right eejits in the last one
@: Two eejits that got the highest first preference votes of any TDs in the state, some eejits alright to pull that off.
@Lone Hurler: that probably speaks volumes of those who voted for them or is it maybe it could be the quality of those up against them in the vote?
@Lone Hurler: go away out of that
Inheritors of the most envied election machine in the state.
I don’t think either of them are anywhere near as sneaky or sly as plenty of others in the dail.
@: but two eejits that would buy and sell the rest of the oireachtas put together.
why do we have to have more leeches aka TD’s when the population rose but half them are not Irish aka cant vote
no wonder the govt loves open borders
ffs we are giving asylum seekers the right to vote next year
even trump would blush at this “stuffing the ballot box” scam
@empty: you need to be an Irish citizen to vote in an Irish general election. You’re talking out of your hoop
@empty: half the population rise aren’t Irish citizens? Care to post actual proof please. Also asylum seekers can’t vote in Dail elections.
@SYaxJ2Ts:
kevin plz keep up
I DIDNT SAY GENERAL ELCCTION
im on about local and Euros
@empty: neither of which apply to the Govt
@Oisin CK:
im on about local and euro
and look up stats, of how many non Irish are living here now
hence why we need more TD’s
@empty: The Journal has actually written a good explainer on this issue recently.
To summarise: non nationals have been eligible to vote in local elections since 2004. They cannot vote in General elections.
So at least they can’t be blamed for the ‘leeches’ of TDs we have.
Might be no harm having a read of it.
@Oisin CK:
the govt brought it in
@The Cearnach:
urkaines can vote in locals and euro’s next year
Holly cairns wants all asylum seekers to have the right to vote in ALL elections
@empty: but Holly Cairns isn’t in government so how can she bring it in?
@The Cearnach:
she wants to be in govt
remember she is the one who made vile anti Catholic tweets and made light of abortion
she is fecked at next G.E. as her rivals will use that against her
she did say sorry thou, the story got drowned out by covid coming here
@empty: so is it the government or the opposition you don’t like? I’m confused.
@The Cearnach:
there is a tiny fig leave between the govt and the opposition as well u know aka they all the same
@SYaxJ2Ts: British citizens who are residents in Ireland can also vote in general elections, European residents can vote in European elections and all residents can vote on local elections.
@Steve O’Hara Smith.: indeed Steve, you’re right. I guess my comment was to counter the ridiculous conspiracy theory posted originally
@empty: not a fan of the SDs, but she was spot on re the vile activities of the Catholic Church
@empty: Read the constituation will you and then you will get the answer. If being a TD is such a handy number, off you go and sign up for the next one.
@empty: Vikle anti catholic tweets and light of abortion. No woman makes light of abortion and as regards the church allshe waould have to do is tell the truth about the church and some of the things they have done to upset some people.
@empty: You really have no idea about politics at all and you have a vote!
Well over paid I know that
@Paddy C: based on what data?
@Oisin CK:
common sense
@empty: We’ll that’s can’t be true. You don’t have any.
@Oisin CK: on the real average earnings most people are on in the real world 20,000-30,000 at best but I suppose most are earning the average 70,000-80,000?
@empty: Which is not seen in any of your posts so far.
On a unrelated article Russell brand. So all these years this girl said nothing now it’s all this. As some posters on here have said the world is going to bits. Every1 jumps on the bandwagon and the accused is a pariah there on in. The wants of a few ie lgbtq are more important than the wider pop now. Even the article yday they not happy and marched to stop a pub changing a name for 1 night. The west is becoming sad won’t be able to look at some1 in near future without been sued or branded something. And for record my 2 girls are gay so nobody try brandish me as anti gay
@Karl Pilkington: I have no idea what you’re banging on about. I also feel for your girls if you think it’s common that women falsely accuse men.
@Karl Pilkington: It is very common for victims to say nothing, especially when their accusing someone famous or influential. The fear of not being believed is strong.
Jimmy Saville’s actions did not come to the light until after his death when his high profile funeral honours incensed some of his victims. That opened floodgates and many people came forward to reveal an incredibly sordid double life.
Start by getting rid of all the above!!
ŔTE line up for dancing with the stars.
All useless unless serving themselves
We always vote for the same dopes. Eijits we are!
@Big D: seems 30+% want to vote for terrorist puppets
@Oisin CK: you really should read more.
@Oisin CK: Are the terrorists in the room with us now?
I have no idea who most of them are, but I can tell you what they believe in! Like all of our politicians, they believe chiefly in their own welfare and that of their families, friends, and cronies. They will, of course, deny this with a straight face, knowing that you don’t believe a word from their mouths while also knowing that you know that they know this. They also know we need them to make the decisions and do the difficult things we wouldn’t want to, and that’s why we elect them in the first place! It’s a symbiotic relationship. Politicians, eh? An unfortunate but necessary blight on society…
Don’t know don’t care who they are
The muppet show
Should have an S before T and D to let people know their contaigon. Precautionary measures in place before approaching any of them
Unfairness you only see TDs or Parties at election time and that goes for All Parties and then there are on Holidays while this country runs its self in to the ground..
How many of these TD’S are bulls hitters
Answer: All of them
Is TD number 4 definitely not Brendan Smith?
Public whinge about quality of politicians. Well there’s a new one.
Moan and complain a=or get involved and be active, locally nationally.
It is easy to be the “hurler on the ditch”
try being an activist and see how it feels and how long it takes toi get anything done.
Oh and watch Yes Minister and Yes Prie Minister, may be the UK but civil servants are civil servants the world over
have your say