BBG Watch Commentary
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza). Voice of America did not use this photo and for hours did not have a separate news report on the phone call.
President Obama got only one sentence in the 7:00 PM EST Saturday online Voice of America (VOA) newscast after his 90 minute telephone conversation earlier today with President Putin while Russia’s ambassador to the UN got three sentences.
The newscast did not lead with the Obama-Putin phone call story.
Voice of America was many minutes behind Voice of Russia and Germany’s Deutsche Welle in reporting on the phone call and even then did not initially produce a separate report but inserted a couple of sentences about the phone call in another report, filed from the UN headquarters in New York.
It appears that VOA management made no arrangements to have a correspondent at the White House on Saturday despite a major geopolitical crisis in Ukraine.
VOA’s regular White House correspondent departed the organization on Friday in a dispute with VOA executives over news reporting policies and numerous news reporting failures due to poor management, as well as intimidation of working journalists by a senior manager.
President Obama also spoke separately this afternoon about Ukraine with President Hollande of France and Prime Minister Harper of Canada. This news has not been reported at all by Voice of America. Voice of America also did not report on U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s phone call with Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu.
Voice of America English news website has also failed to report on a statement on Ukraine issued today by Senator John McCain, another statement issued by Congressional Ukrainian Caucus Co-Chairman Congressman Jim Gerlach, and a statement issued Friday by Senator Chris Murphy.
It appears that VOA Director David Ensor and VOA Executive Editor Steve Redisch also did not make arrangements to have a VOA correspondent present at the Pentagon despite a major military move by Russia in Ukraine.
VOA’s 7:00 PM EST online radio newscast did not lead with the news about the Obama-Putin phone call. The newscast had only one sentence on the phone call in the middle of a news item. There was far more information in the VOA newscast on what Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin had to say about the situation in Ukraine than what President Obama had to say to President Putin.
The VOA English newscast also had more information on Russia’s positions on Ukraine, including those of President Putin, than on U.S. positions on the crisis.
Listen to VOA’s 7PM EST Online Radio Newscast
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The White House
Office of the Press SecretaryFor Immediate Release March 01, 2014
Readout of President Obama’s Call with President Putin
President Obama spoke for 90 minutes this afternoon with President Putin of Russia about the situation in Ukraine. President Obama expressed his deep concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a breach of international law, including Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and which is inconsistent with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the Helsinki Final Act. The United States condemns Russia’s military intervention into Ukrainian territory.
The United States calls on Russia to de-escalate tensions by withdrawing its forces back to bases in Crimea and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine. We have consistently said that we recognize Russia’s deep historic and cultural ties to Ukraine and the need to protect the rights of ethnic Russian and minority populations within Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has made clear its commitment to protect the rights of all Ukrainians and to abide by Ukraine’s international commitments, and we will continue to urge them to do so.
President Obama told President Putin that, if Russia has concerns about the treatment of ethnic Russian and minority populations in Ukraine, the appropriate way to address them is peacefully through direct engagement with the government of Ukraine and through the dispatch of international observers under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As a member of both organizations, Russia would be able to participate. President Obama urged an immediate effort to initiate a dialogue between Russia and the Ukrainian government, with international facilitation, as appropriate. The United States is prepared to participate.
President Obama made clear that Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community. In the coming hours and days, the United States will urgently consult with allies and partners in the UN Security Council, the North Atlantic Council, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and with the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum. The United States will suspend upcoming participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8. Going forward, Russia’s continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation.
The people of Ukraine have the right to determine their own future. President Obama has directed his Administration to continue working urgently with international partners to provide support for the Ukrainian government, including urgent technical and financial assistance. Going forward, we will continue consulting closely with allies and partners, the Ukrainian government and the International Monetary Fund, to provide the new government with significant assistance to secure financial stability, to support needed reforms, to allow Ukraine to conduct successful elections, and to support Ukraine as it pursues a democratic future.
The White House
Office of the Press SecretaryFor Immediate Release March 01, 2014
Readout of President Obama’s calls with President Hollande and Prime Minister Harper
President Obama spoke separately this afternoon with President Hollande of France and Prime Minister Harper of Canada. The leaders agreed that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, and expressed their grave concern over Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. The leaders agreed to continue to coordinate closely, including bilaterally, and through appropriate international organizations. The leaders affirmed the importance of unity within the international community in support of international law, and the future of Ukraine and its democracy. The leaders also pledged to work together on a package of support and assistance to help Ukraine as it pursues reforms and stabilizes its economy.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No: NR-107-14
March 01, 2014
Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s Phone Call With Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu
Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout:
“Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke by phone with Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu this morning.“Secretary Hagel expressed deep concern about Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.
“He reminded Minister Shoygu that these activities ran counter to Russia’s international treaty obligations and stated position that it would respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“Secretary Hagel stressed that, without a change on the ground, Russia risks further instability in the region, isolation in the international community and an escalation that would threaten European and international security.”