Merkel, Macron “Convinced” Moscow Orchestrated Skripal Poisoning
French President Emmanuel Macron and German leader Angela Merkel said Friday following a meeting of the European Council that UK Prime Minister Theresa May had shared “proof” of Russia’s involvement in the assassination attempt against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the two leaders said during a joint press conference in Brussels on the sidelines of a meeting of the European Council.
But although the evidence was purportedly convincing – and all three leaders are in agreement that Russia was the only reasonable culprit, and that they would help support an investigation into the matter – the EC opted not to take any immediate action against Moscow, TASS reported.
In a statement, the EC said it “agrees with the United Kingdom government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation.”
“The European Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent attack in Salisbury, expresses its deepest sympathies to all whose lives have been threatened and lends its support to the ongoing investigation.”
“The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons under any circumstances, is completely unacceptable, must be systematically and rigorously condemned and constitutes a security threat to us all. Member States will coordinate on the consequences to be drawn in the light of the answers provided by the Russian authorities. The European Union will remain closely focused on this issue and its implications,” the document said.
As a sop to the Russia hawks, the gathering of EU leaders agreed to bolster cooperation with NATO to strengthen its resilience to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear-related risks, and hybrid threats, including in the areas of cyber, strategic communication and counter-intelligence.
The European Council invited the European Commission and the High Representative to take this work forward and report on progress by the June European Council.
After arriving Thursday in Brussels, May told reporters and her fellow European leaders “it is clear that the Russian threat does not respect borders and indeed the incident is Salisbury was part of a pattern of Russian aggression against Europe and its near neighbors from the western Balkans to the Near East.”
During a joint press conference, Merkel and Macron said they’d been given evidence by the UK to support its claims. Merkel said the reports were “well grounded,” RT reported.
“[UK Prime Minister] Theresa May has provided us with some results [of the investigation],” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Brussels on Friday. She added that the two countries will follow the British probe into the poisoning of the former Russia-UK double agent “closely” and are “convinced” that the conclusions that were made by the investigators so far are “already well-grounded.”
Meanwhile, Macron said “there is no… plausible explanation” to the Salisbury incident other than Russia being behind the attack. He added that “all EU member states agree” on that allegation.
* * *
During a separate meeting earlier this week, EU foreign ministers expressed solidarity with the UK, but also declined to take any further action against Moscow – although there was disagreement between nations.
German foreign minister called Russia “a difficult partner” but also noted that “dialogue” with Moscow ought to continue. London and Moscow should sift through the evidence “bilaterally” Maas said. Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl argued the accusations against Russia were premature, and refused to back London, per Strategic Culture.
Spain’s Alfonso Dastis stressed the need for more evidence before reaching conclusions. He believes the EU should wait until the OPCW conducts a thorough examination of all elements involved.
At the same time, representatives from Warsaw – who have recently proven eager to attack Moscow given even the thinnest of pretexts – expressed solidarity with London.
Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter have been in critical condition since the March 4 attack, when they were found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in Salisbury. Skripal had worked as a double agent for the UK intelligence agency MI6 and was jailed in Russia in 2006 for spying for Britain. He was later freed as part of a spy swap in which Russia released four spies in exchange for 10 Russian agents.
Russia has repeatedly denied its involvement and rejected UK demands to issue an explanation for how the Soviet-era nerve agent – known as Novichok – made its way to London.
However, the EU did agree to withdraw its ambassador to Moscow, saying the envoy will return to Brussels “for consultations” as several member states ponder whether to follow the UK’s lead and expel their diplomats. The UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats in response to the attack, prompting a proportional response from Moscow.
Ireland, Denmark, Lithuania and the Czech Republic are also considering further measures, including the expulsion of diplomats, CNN reported.
Source: http://silveristhenew.com/2018/03/23/merkel-macron-convinced-moscow-orchestrated-skripal-poisoning/
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Whistler Blowers, Insiders
Salisbury, Skripal, And Novichok – A Local’s View
Authored by Lesley Docksey via TruePublica,
From the moment the news came out that on Sunday March 4th in Salisbury, one of England’s revered cathedral cities, a Russian spy and his daughter had been poisoned by some form of ‘nerve agent’, my reaction was ‘OH DEAR’.
Jeremy Corbyn correctly reminded Parliament of
Tony bLIAR’$ ATTEMPT to FRIGHTEN PEOPLE into GOING TO WAR WITH IRAQ with his ‘’DODGY DO$$IER’ and 45 MINUTES CLAIM. 
But most have forgotten that, four days before the huge demonstration in London the Army very visibly arrived at Heathrow airport, because there was a possible threat of planes being hit by al Qa’ida missiles. They disappeared after a day or so as it was obvious the protest by millions would go ahead anyway.
The ever-increasing HY$TERIA of the GOVERNMENT and MAINSCREAM MEDIA in the days that followed the Salisbury incident WAS GIVING OFF the same NA$TY $MELL. All the ‘news’ was
EVIDENCE- LIGHT and FULL of anomaLIE$ 
that no one addressed.
GOVERNMENT I$ TRYING to $CARE EVERYONE, this time TO MAKE US POINT the ACCUSING FINGER at RUSSIA. 
It SEEM$ that once again, a
Then I read a comment by a SALISBURY RESIDENT: “IT’$ LIKE a GHO$T TOWN.”
The GOVERNMENT’$ REACTION had so FRIGHTENED EVERYONE that people weren’t coming to the city. Shops and BUSINESSES were SUFFERING. I don’t exactly live a million miles from Salisbury, so I hopped on the train to see for myself how it was coping.
VISIT SALISBURY at any time of the year and IT WILL BE HEAVING WITH PEOPLE coming to shop, to eat at one of the many cafes, restaurants and pubs, to visit the Cathedral and to walk through the ancient narrow streets. Not NOW IT I$N’T.
From the moment I walked out of the station towards the city centre I was struck by the lack of people. Plenty of traffic winding its way through the narrow medieval streets but pedestrians? No.
I made my way to the MALting$ where SKIRPAL AND his DAUGHTER HAD BEEN FOUND, collapsed ON A BENCH. It’s a pedestrianised area, with a central green area (where that bench was) beside a river, surrounded by some big stores and lots of little, individual shops. Walk through it from the car parks and you come out into the old city centre with its ancient timber-frame and brick buildings. It’s not just popular with the locals, IT IS A TOURIST HEAVEN.
On my way in there was a policemen on duty and blue-and-white cordon tape. Further in were MORE POLICE guarding cordoned-off areas and some media – cameras and reporters making their filmed reports to Sky News or whoever. I overheard one of them saying “She is due to arrive…” Could I possibly have arrived just before our…U$ELE$$ CRIME Mini$TER…There$a MAY finally came to Salisbury
I would have to wait and see.
I filled in time with looking at some of the SHOPS. There were FIVE WITHIN THE CORDON, FORCED to CLOSE FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS, and NO END in SIGHT.
Beyond them, just outside the cordon, was an Original factory Shop Factory Shop with open doors. I didn’t go in. I didn’t want to face the embarrassment of being the only person in a large store not standing behind a counter. Sainsbury’s supermarket, on the edge of the Maltings, wasn’t faring much better.
I tried the little shops, loved by visitors to Salisbury. IT IS NEARLY EASTER.
WINDOWS were FILLED WITH EASTER DISPLAYS, and NO PUBLIC to ENJOY THEM.
In each was a lonely person WAITING IN VAIN for CUSTOMERS. . I ASKED one of them HOW BAD THE TRADE WAS. “It’s twice as bad as it was last week,” she said, “and it’s getting worse.” Depressed, I went back and stood by the bridge over the river, waiting for May.
The press were gathering, more cameras, microphones held ready. A Wiltshire policeman passed me and grinned. “We don’t usually have exciting things happen in Salisbury!” he said cheerfully. But SALISBURY REALLY COULD DO WITHOUT THI$ THRILL.
May appeared with Chief Constable Pritchard and was immediately surrounded by the press. I heard an animated conversation going on behind me. It was Jon Snow of Channel 4 News, talking to some local people. They only realised who he was after he walked off, back to the city centre and away from the media scrum. Sensible man.
Two schoolgirls passed May on their way back to school after lunch, one of them saying, “I don’t really care about her.” May went on a tiny walk-about and met one or two shop owners, probably handpicked for being Prime Minister-friendly. Then it was off to the Guildhall for a meeting with first-responders.
The empty Guildhall Square at lunchtime – every building in the photo is a café, pub or restaurant!
Outside was a crowd, rubber necking, along with lots of police, some noisy police dogs, and a fire engine. Hovering overhead were helicopters and a drone. No wonder Salisbury residents and visitors are becoming fearful and staying away. Apart from the crowd standing outside the Guildhall, the large Guildhall Square was almost deserted, and this at lunchtime when offices empty and people fill the cafes, restaurants and pubs that surround the Square and it’s hard to find a free table anywhere. Now they were almost all free.
Here and there I saw large signs outside the shops declaring, ‘Open for Business’.
MORE COULD BE $ET UP.
I HAD NEVER SEEN The CITY LIKE THIS and IT BROKE my HEART. IT I$ $CHEDULED TO GET WOR$E.
On Monday March 12th the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner said that all THE CORDONED OFF AREAS (of which there are several around the city) COULD REMAIN IN PLACE FOR WEEK$, and that
But SALISBURY has had enough and IS FIGHTING BACK. In a narrow street going towards the cathedral I found a shop window with a message strung across it: #SALISBURYISOPEN. Naturally I went in and asked the woman behind the counter what it meant. And it all came pouring out. “We’ve just recovered from all the ‘regeneration work’ on the car parks and the Maltings, when this happens,” she said, while explaining her message.
The Salisbury Journal, the city’s weekly paper, is one to be envied by other places. The March 15th issue has a 12-page focus on the incident which puts the HYPERVENTILATING NATIONAL PRESS to shame. The Journal is also doing what government has failed to do. MINISTERS might INSIST Salisbury I$ ‘SAFE’, but THAT DOE$N’T MATCH THEIR $CARE-MONGERING.
So the Journal launched the ‘Salisbury is Open’ campaign. That is what the ‘Open for Business’ signs are about.
I was told how Salisbury residents are too frightened to come into the centre to shop. I was told of suspect vehicles being taken by the military to Porton Down, a fact confirmed by the Journal. The Journal carefully lists them: ambulances, police cars (some unmarked) and two vehicle recovery vans, over several days.
Altogether, about 10 or 11 vehicles, for the SCIENTISTS at PORTON DOWN to examine for the presence of a ‘nerve agent’. Scientists there must be tired of this, having APPARENTLY REFUSED TO IDENTIFY IT AS RUSSIAN-MADE.
But the real question, says the lady in the shop, is ‘What about SKIRPAL’S CAR
’ a RED BMW series 3.
Surely they would look in the Sainsbury’s car park first 
WHY WAS IT TAKING THE POLICE SO LONG TO FIND IT
THEY CORDONED OFF THE CARPARK, but not until 8 DAYS AFTER THE POISONING.
LATER THEY came back and CORDONED OFF the TICKET MACHINE.
It is known Skripal’s car entered the car park at about 1:40 pm on March 4th. When was it taken to the Ashley Wood Recovery Garage, and by whom? And indeed, why, unless to get it out of the way?
Why did ‘incident response units’ examine a red BMW at the Garage on Thursday March 8th, remove an Ashley Wood recovery van from Winterslow village on Monday 12th, return to the Garage on Tuesday 13th, remove another recovery van from a Dorset town on Thursday March 14th and only then on Friday, 12 WHOLE DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, IT IS OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED as SKIRPAL’S CAR, and the Journal reports that it is being removed from Ashley Wood Recovery Garage, with the national media limping in a day later.
12 days. IF THIS NERVE AGENT I$ SO VERY DANGEROUS WHY IS THERE SO LITTLE TO SHOW for so much activity, AND SO MANY DELAYS IN DEALING WITH IT
DOESN’T IT LOOK LIKE AN ………EXERCISE IN PROPAGANDA
Are the counter terrorism police going trace all those who used the car park ticket machine? Are they going to cordon off any place (the cemetery is already out of bounds) where Skripal may possibly have been? Are they going to spin this out even more and gradually put all of Ashley Wood’s vehicles in Porton Down, and all its staff in hospital? ANOTHER LOCAL BUSINESS RUINED
TO FURTHER UK’$ ANTI-RUSSIA camPAIgN.
There is no thought for the city of Salisbury and its people in any of the government’s actions, so focussed are they on their unsubstantiated accusations against Russia. A Foreign Office statement claimed:
“Russia’s response doesn’t change the facts of the matter – the attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE CONCLUSION other than that the Russian State was culpable.”
The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said IT WAS A ‘STATE SPONSORED MURDER ATTEMPT’. But WHICH ‘$TATE’
are we talking about?
It’s been clear for months that the THE GOVERNMENT WAS USING THE BREXIT $HAMBLE$ TO HIDE the fact that they couldn’t govern the country and tackle its pressing issues – the HEALTH crI$I$, HOMELE$$NE$$ and lack of social housing, POVERTY and THE AWFUL results of its AU$TERITY PROGROM.
Now it seems that the government is U$ING SKIRPAL TO HIDE the FACT that THEY CAN’T GOVERN BREXIT either.
And while they’re sorting out THEIR FANTA$TICAL ME$$, and if you live anywhere near Salisbury, go visit, eat out and buy something in the shops.
Supermarkets & Convenience Stores
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-22/salisbury-skripal-and-novichok-locals-view
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR HINTS At FAL$E FLAG: “The UK HA$ A LONG RECORD Of MI$DOING$….”
It appears the RUSSIANS ARE LOSING THEIR PATIENCE with the PROOF-LE$$ ACCU$ATION$ from The UK.
Russian AMBASSADOR Alexander Yakovenko has held press conference in London, DENYing the KREMLIN WAS INVOLVED in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia using military-grade nerve agent.
“BRITAIN has WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE BLAMED RUSSIA for POISONING THREE PEOPLE AND
CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO COOPERATE,” he said.
The UK authorities are VIOLATING VIENNA CONVENTION by NOT GIVING RUSSIA ACCESS to SKIRPALS, because Skripal has dual citizenship (the UK and Russia), Russian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko said.
The RUSSIAN EMBASSY has IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED DETAILS and MATERIALS of the case, the envoy stated.
While 10 days have passed, Moscow has received no response, while LONDON HAS REFUSED to pass SAMPLES of the POISONOUS SUBSTANCE ALLEGEDLY USED to attack Skripal.
Then Yakovenko turned a little darker, seemingly INDICATING CONCERN$ that THI$ WA$ NOTHING BUT a FAL$E FLAG OPERATION …….. (via SputnikNews)
The envoy called for checking HOW COULD BRITISH EXPERTS FIND OUT THE EXACT TYPE of NERVE GA$ USED to poison Skripal.
Commenting on the death of former top manager of Russian Aeroflot airline Nikolai Glushkov, the AMBASSADOR stated that “WE CANNOT TAKE BRITAIN’$ WORD on TRUST.”
Alexander Yakovenko said that BRITAIN HAS PROVIDED NO PROOF of Russia’s alleged involvement in the nerve agent attack.
He suggested that the samples of the so-called Novichok nerve gas could have already been in possession of a labaratory, which is located just miles away from Salisbury.
“We have been refused consular access to our Russian citizen Yulia Skripal,” Russian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko said.
The UK IS IGNORING REQUESTS on CASE of RUSSIAN businessman GLUSHKOV who DIED in LONDON, ambassador stated.
RUSSIAN EXPERTS PUZZLED HOW UK MANAGED TO DETERMINE TYPE OF NERVE GAS in Skripal case, IN DAY$, but not weeks or months.
The UK HA$ a LONG RECORD of MI$DOING$, he said, INCLUDING THE support of COUP in UKRAINE AND THE INVASION of IRAQ.
UK CRIME Mini$ter MAY is set TO WARN at a summit in Brussels THAT Vladimir PUTIN’s brazen flouting of international law represents A THREAT to DEMONcrazie$ across the continent. :lol
And then the ambassador turned his attention to THE SHOCKING COMMENT$ FROM UK foreign secretary BORIS Johnson who compared the Russian World Cup to HITLER’s 1939 Olympics…
Johnson recently raised the bar for the UK government’s barrage of accusations against Moscow to a new level. The British foreign minister compared Russia’s hosting of this year’s World Cup to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.
“I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right. It is an emetic prospect to think of Putin glorifying in this sporting event,” he told a receptive Foreign Aff
RUSSIA WAS FURIOUS:
“THIS STATEMENT IS totally disgusting, it is NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ANY FOREIGN MINISTER,”
KREMLIN SPOKESPERSON Dmitry Peskov SAID.
“Undoubtedly, [this REMARK ] IS OFFENSIVE and UNACCEPTABLE.”
Additionally, Mr Yakovenko condemned the comments today, saying:
“NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO INSULT the RUSSIAN PEOPLE,
WHO DEFEATED the NAZI$.”
But The UK’s PROPAGANDA is not just FOR ADULT$, they are indoctrinating the KID$ TOO …
In case PUPIL$ in the UK don’t understand the headlines on Russia and its president,
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION FOR KID$ EXPLAIN$ HOW “toxic Putin” IS POISONING the WEST, 
WITHOUT BOTHERING TO DISTINGUISH between FACT and ALLEGATION.
The Day, a news website that produces short articles about current affairs meant to be used as
TEACHING AID$ in BRITI$H $CHOOL$, has OFFERed students TWO ALTERNATIVES to beLIEve ABOUT Vladimir PUTIN: he is EITHER EUROPE’S “MOST DANGEROUS LEADER SINCE HITLER,” OR 
A PUFFED UP FIGURE ATTACKING OTHER NATIONS OUT of WEAKNESS.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-22/russian-ambassador-questions-uk-involvement-nerve-attack-blasts-johnsons-putin
UK test to develop students’ critical thinking focuses on Putin’s ‘toxic’ Western mission
https://vine-tube.com/video/39578/uk-test-to-develop-students-critical-thinking-focuses-on-putin-s-toxic-western-mission/