KHRONOPULO PICKED AS CRIMEA’S REPRESENTATIVE TO MOSCOW.

The communist-controlled Crimean Supreme Soviet has appointed Admiral Mikhail Khronopulo (retired) as the official representative in Moscow of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Crimea’s mission in Moscow was officially established on March 18. As an autonomous republic within Ukraine, the Crimea has a certain latitude to maintain external economic and cultural relations (DINAU, March 22). Khronopulo, whose surname suggests a Pontic Greek background, was the commander of the Soviet Union’s Black Sea Fleet from 1985 to 1991. Following the dissolution of the USSR, Khronopulo opposed the partition of the Black Sea Fleet between Russia and Ukraine, advocated Russian jurisdiction over Sevastopol, questioned Ukraine’s title to the Crimea, and co-signed–with other senior Russian officers–a string of statements urging the retention of Russian military power in the Black Sea region. Khronopulo’s views, at odds with official policy, mark him as an exponent of Russian naval imperialism in its current, ragged form. –VS

ISRAELI LEADERS’ VISIT TO UKRAINE REFLECTS CORDIAL RELATIONS.