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           On The Scene: VOA's Elizabeth Arrott in Simferopol, Crimea

   by Elizabeth Arrott

   VOA's Elizabeth Arrott is in the regional capital Simferopol and
   reports on reaction after Crimea's new parliament voted Thursday to
   join Russia.
   Pro-Russian supporters gathered at Crimea's parliament as lawmakers
   inside voted unanimously Thursday to break with Ukraine and join the
   Russian republic.  Crimeans are to vote on the measure March 16.
   "This means we have reunited with our motherland which we have been a
   part of for so long," said local parliament member Sergei Tsekov and
   the chairman of the Russian community of Crimea. "We have reunited with
   the Russian Federation."
   "I am sure that most Crimea residents will be happy about it and will
   applaud that." he said  "And I am sure the majority of Crimea residents
   will support our decision at the referendum."
   The vote is a serious escalation of the crisis on the peninsula, which
   in the last week has fallen under the control of forces widely believed
   to be Russian. Lawmakers in Moscow also recently began steps to make
   joining Russia easier.
   Thursday's declaration in Simferopol was immediately denounced in Kyiv,
   under which Crimea has special status as an autonomous republic.
   Non-ethnic Russians in Crimea were also alarmed by developments,
   questioning not just the legality of the referendum, but of the current
   parliament itself, formed after gunmen seized the building last week.
   "We don't recognize this government that was voted in unlegitimate way
   under the pressure of gunmen," said Crimean Tatar politician Abduraman
   Egiz. "In all the world, of course this is not acceptable. We cannot
   accept, we cannot recognize this government."
   But those opposed to the move are not only outnumbered by the region's
   ethnic Russian majority politically.   They are also outgunned by the
   presence of troops loyal to the pro-Russian side.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/on-the-scene-voas-elizabeth-arrott-in
   -simferopol-crimea/1865585.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/on-the-scene-voas-elizabeth-arrott-in-simferopol-crimea/1865585.html