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Crimean entrepreneurs concerned over threat of economic chaos in the country

SIMFEROPOL, December 13. /ITAR-TASS/. The authorities of Ukraine must do everything to avert an economic chaos coming about owing to the destabilization of thes ituation in the capital, Alexander Batalin, Chairman of the Crimean Branch of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (UUIE), told journalists on Friday.

"Owing to the Maidan (Independence Square) protests, our cooperation contacts are getting impaired, including those with Ukraine's western regions where the sales of practically all products have discontinued, and shops and markets do not function. We the industrialists and entrepreneurs are concerned over the state of things: it is essential, first of all, to bring the year to completion -- to pay wages and salaries, pensions, stipends, and for people to pay taxes to avert an economic chaos in our country," Batalin said.

He pointed out that the situation in the country's economy is saved by southeastern regions where a more stable situation had taken shape.

"Historically the south-east always fed the country's western regions. We have never had any doubts as to whether we do something wrong. We are a united country, and a united state, and we must support on the whole all regions of our country. This is why it was incomprehensible to us when the entire west of our country rose, without any thoughts about consequences," Batalin emphasized. A stable situation has taken shape in the Crimean economy and, judging by this year's indicators, the Autonomous Republic will show the best results in economic development as compared with that in other years, he added.

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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