“As to what choice Ukraine makes and what geopolitical orientation it chooses, it’s not up to the CE, nor the RF and the European Council. It is entirely up to sovereign people of Ukraine and its people in power. In fact, this decision should be based on possibly broad public consensus,” recently such opinion was voiced from PACE podium by the ANC faction MP Levon Zurabyan, during the debate on Ukraine. Today, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to tragic events of the last two days in Ukraine, Levon Zurabyan cited other observations from his speech, “I had mentioned in my speech that the CE and Russia, along with Ukraine, need to work for Ukraine not to turn into a battlefield of conflict between Russia and the CE. What we actually see now. I have said that it is very important that the CE and Russia will harmonize their interests and cooperate in Ukraine.
I have said that the alternative would first be disastrous for Ukraine, and also for the strained relations between Russia and the West. At the same time, I have highlighted in my speech that the CE should intervene if civil liberties and democratic freedoms are violated, in particular, human rights, and the right to freedom of rallies. In this respect, I consider that with regard to escalation of the conflict, the Ukrainian authorities take on great responsible, particularly, for exerting lethal force against demonstrators,” said Levon Zurabyan. In the opinion of our interlocutor, if until now there were a hope that we can resolve the conflict through the format of political and negotiation, nowadays a situation is created that exercising violence happens on both sides and if it continues, it would be difficult to determine the issue of liability. “Today, the two sides should understand their responsibility for non-use of violence and resolving the conflict through dialogue.” The Armenian MP considers the events happened in Ukraine a tragedy, the solution of which is not so easy. “The conflict resolution may not be easy anymore. I can only wish wisdom to all political forces who today determine the fate of Ukraine.” As for the use of lethal force against protesters, Levon Zurabyan has made an observation at PACE, “If the authorities of Armenia had given adequate response to the use of lethal force and if the CE were to be consistent in bringing the guilty to responsibility through use of pursue over the authorities, we could be living in another Europe. In a Europe, where the authorities and the government would be much more careful and more responsible before deciding to use coercive methods.” Levon Zurabyan has also made a recommendation, which had received quite a big response. He recommended for the CU to prepare a special report on the use of lethal force against demonstrators, and, naturally, the report shall reflect the events of Armenia on March 1, 2008 and the events underway in Ukraine. “Again, I would like to emphasize, if an adequate respond were given to the events in Armenia, today, we could not have such continuations in Ukraine. Today, the entire world’s attention is focused on Ukraine. Why could not we do the same thing in 2008? In 2008, the world turned their backs to Armenia and Armenia’s democracy. Today, we are reaping the fruits of this turn back.”
Nelly Grigoryan
