Gunmen Block Military Observers in Crimea; GOP Split Over National Security; Interview with US Amb. to OSCE Daniel Baer
BLITZER: For the second straight day, unarmed military observers from an international security organization are being blocked from entering Crimea. Our CNN senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, on the ground with exclusive video of what's happening at the checkpoint. Matthew is joining us now with details. What's going on -- Matthew?</s>MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, thanks very much. Well, those monitors from the OSCE the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, they were turned back, essentially, today. We were with them exclusively, traveling from the mainland Ukraine across the land bridge into the Crimean Peninsula. They'd been knocked back on Thursday a couple of times, talking about some quite aggressive responses from the masked gunmen who had met them there. They were more hopeful today. They said they were more determined. They were going to go in and see if they could, you know, realize their mandates and report on the security situation inside Crimea. Take a listen -- take a look at our journey.</s>CHANCE (voice-over): On the road to the center of the Ukrainian crisis, as international monitors sent to report on the military buildup here try to make their way to Crimea. We gained exclusive access to their convoy as it crossed from the mainland. (on camera): All right. Well, we're following these coaches here, which are carrying the 43 members of the unarmed OSCE military mission toward Crimea. The last time they tried to get into the peninsula, they had a very hostile reception. One of the military officers on board there told me that the guards, the pro-Russian guards at the checkpoint they tried to cross, clicked their safety catches off. And so it was a very dangerous situation they were in. Earlier, when we were speaking to them as they got on to these buses, they told us that they've had a meeting and that they've decided they do have the right to access Crimea. And so, today, they say they're going to be much more assertive about getting in. (voice-over) That these unarmed military officers can only push so far, especially when confronted with the masked pro-Russian gunmen manning the road blocks. The negotiations were short, access denied. Legally, are they allowed to prevent you from going in?</s>LT. COL. GABOR ACS, HUNGARIAN DELEGATE, OSCE: Legally, it's quite interesting question. They have the right to go there, but as you could see,</s>CHANCE: It was at the invitation of Ukraine's interim government that the OSCE, a key European security organization arrived. At least 18 member states, including the U.S. sent military observers meant to monitor the crisis and help deescalate it, not make it worse. (on-camera) Well, this is a standoff we've been witnessing between members of the OSCE here and the pro-Russian security forces there for the blocking through this stretch of land towards the Crimean peninsula. The OSCE, the commander here saying that we've come here to check on the situation inside Crimea. And the man there wearing the mask (ph) has just told them that he's been ordered by the Crimean government not to let anybody in. You see, this is the reaction of the Ukrainian crowd chanting now nationalistic slogans because they're angry at what's happened.</s>CHANCE (voice-over): Angry and frustrated, but for those who now control Crimea, an international presence is not welcome.</s>CHANCE (on-camera): Well, authorities here in Crimea say they will consider international observers for the referendum that's being staged here on autonomy next weekend, but only if those international observers are from Russia, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Matthew Chance with that exclusive report. Thank you very, very much. Joining us now is the United States Ambassador to the group of these international observers you just saw trying to get into Crimea. Ambassador Daniel Baer is joining us. He's the U.S. representative to the organization for security and cooperation in Europe. Ambassador, the Russians say that this group, this group of observers lack what they call official invitations to come into Crimea. What do you say to that?</s>DANIEL BAER, U.S. AMB TO ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE: That's just not the case, Wolf. All 57 participating states in the OSCE are signatories of the Vienna document, which is the document under which Ukraine requested this visit, including Russia. And Ukraine -- Crimea's part of Ukraine and there's absolutely the right for Ukraine to request under this document military observation, mission to dispel concerns about tensions or security situation on the ground, which are concerns, by the way, that have been raised by the Russian federation themselves.</s>BLITZER: And this argument that the local Crimea government, which Crimea, of course, is part of the sovereign state of Ukraine, but this local government in Crimea doesn't want these observers to come in. What's the reaction? What's the -- what do you say to that?</s>BAER: Well, the so-called government in Crimea right now is effectively a puppet government. The guy who is leading it got four percent of the vote in the last election there. So, you know, that government does not have authority to decide where the sovereign territory of Ukraine starts and ends. And it is the central government in Kiev that has the authority to invite on a voluntary basis these observers. And 21 countries and 43 people have taken up that invitation, and we would expect the Russian government as well as all others who are signatories to be on a document to support full access for them.</s>BLITZER: So, what can you effectively do now if these observers are repeatedly blocked from entering Crimea? What's the answer?</s>BAER: Well, obviously, it is a military observer team, but it's an unarmed. And this is not a military action. These observers are a neutral party meant to assess the situation on the ground. My understanding is they are now bedding down for the night. They will meet again as a team and decide how to proceed. But you know, this is really part of a broader picture, which is that as the president and the secretary of state have made clear, we will continue to explore avenues for delivering consequences for Russia's illegal actions. At the same time, there's an off ramp here. And the off ramp is for Russia to have their military forces go back to their bases. The paramilitaries that they've hired and sent in go back to Russia, and for monitors to come in and address the concerns on the ground.</s>BLITZER: You wrote this, and I'll put it up on the screen, ambassador. You wrote referring to the Russian federation, "We don't have to agree, but we should talk about hard truths. This should not be a forum where we disrespect each other by peddling a big lie." So, you're accusing the Russians of a big lie. What is the big lie they're peddling?</s>BAER: The big lie they're peddling is that there is some enormously terrible situation on the ground, particularly, for ethnic Russians, particularly in the Crimean region of Ukraine. The high commissioner for national minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was on the ground this past week. She saw no evidence of that. The only reports of the various things that the Russian federation is using to justify its illegal action come from the Russian federation's own organs or press organs controlled by the Russian federation. There are no independent reports that corroborate any of the concerns that they have raised. Now, if those concerns are, nonetheless, real, they should be quite willing to invite and welcome and help support the access of the international community to monitor the situation on the ground. Russia has been peddling a big lie in order to justify what is an illegal action that doesn't contribute to security in the region and undermines the faith of the international community in the Russian federation's ability to be a real international partner.</s>BLITZER: Strong words for Ambassador Donald Baer. He's the U.S. representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Ambassador, good luck over there. Thanks very much. We'll stay in touch. Coming up, the Ukrainian crisis exposing an emerging divide inside the GOP. We're going to tell you what it could be for 2016. Also, I'll speak live with the vice reporter bringing us extraordinary new video, firsthand accounts from those directly affected by this conflict. Stay with us. You're in the SITUATION ROOM.