Crimea's Parliament pushes for independence

KIEV, Ukraine (AP):

CRIMEA'S PARLIAMENT said Tuesday that if the public votes to become part of Russia, the peninsula will declare itself independent and propose becoming a Russian state. That could offer a way of de-escalating the stand-off between Russia and the West.

The vote in Crimea's Parliament about Sunday's referendum could give Moscow the option of saying there is no need for Crimea to become part of Russia.

The dispute between Moscow and the West over Crimea is one of the most severe geopolitical crises in Europe since the end of the Cold War. Russian forces have secured control over the peninsula, but Ukraine's government and Western nations have denounced the referendum as illegitimate and strongly warned Russia against trying to annex Crimea.

The Crimean Parliament's declaration could put the bid to join Russia on hold, depending on the outcome of Russian President Vladimir Putin's bargaining with the West.

In Sunday's referendum, the public will be given two options: becoming part of Russia, or remaining in Ukraine with broader powers.

bloodshed

Crimea, where Russia maintains its Black Sea Fleet base, became the epicentre of tensions in Ukraine after President Viktor Yanukovych fled last month in the wake of months of protests and outbreaks of bloodshed.

Kiev-based political analyst Vadim Karasyov said the Crimean Parliament's move is "a message to the West that there is no talk about Russia incorporating Crimea". He said "It's a tranquiliser for everybody - for the West and for many in Ukraine who are panicking."

Karasyov speculated that Crimea could exist as a "quasi-legitimate" state, while Russia and the West negotiate.