From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer.Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree today,recognizing Crimea as a sovereign and independent country.Hours after this strategic Black Sea peninsular declared it had broken from Ukraine following a weekend referendum,the announcement triggered the toughest western sanctions against Russia since The Cold War.As NPR's Gregory Warner reports,many Crimeans would be satisfied annexed by Russian Federation.After the referendum vote with 97% apparently voting in favor of joining Crimea to Russia.The Crimean parliament passed a law,changing its official currency to the roubleand even pushing its clocks forward to match Moscow time.But so far president Putin has only recognized the peninsular sovereignty,a move that alone triggered asset freezes and other economic sanctions against Russian and Crimean officials.The Obama administration called the vote illegaland said there were massive anomalies in balloting that added up to the 97% figure.Gregory Warner, NPR News, Simferopol.In New York City, the annual wearing of the green in the world's largest celebration of Irish culture,hundreds of thousands spectators lined Fifth Avenue to take in the marchers there,including Joe Poll, a taxi driver from Dublin,who marveled at the scene of the events."It's amazing there. You know, looking it now.It's now more we got.Air parade is on and it looks more competitive more responsive to the Irish natives deserve."
