Please compare the two texts. The first is the official information of Putin’s administration about the telephone conversation between the Presidents of Armenia and Russia. “The sides state that it (the Crimean referendum – A. A.) is next in turn example of exercising people’s right to self-determination through the free expression of will. At the same time, the importance of commitment to norms and principles of international law, first of all the UN Charter, was emphasized.”
The second is the interview of the ANC Deputy Chair Levon Zurabyan. “Occurred Crimean people’s clear expression of will of (we are still talking about the Crimean referendum – A. A.), the results of which should be taken into account in any case of the settlement. At the same time, the Congress is expressing its concern with the conflict raised between Russia and Ukraine, which can be overcome only through dialogue between the two brotherly countries’ peoples and the authorities, on the principle of international law, non-use of force, democracy, and self-determination of peoples.”
As you can see, these two texts are similar not only in estimates, but even in structure. Maybe in-depth analysts notice differences in the shades here; however, these differences are invisible for the journalistic eye. Both the government and the opposition party (or perhaps it would be better to say, one forth of “non-government forces”) believe that it is possible to have “free” or “clear” expression of will in the event when the other country’s servicemen and military techniques, removing their insignias, had come out of their deployment sites provided for by the agreement with combat arms and had occupied key strategic locations.
I, naturally, do not mind a free expression of will and I am sure that without Russian military presence, Crimea’s population, anyway, would vote in favor of joining Russia. However, it should be a long process, with propaganda and anti-propaganda, and most importantly, without the presence of foreign troops. Like it is happening, for example, in Scotland. In fact, also in Artsakh, from February 1988 until September 2, 1991. And not within two weeks.
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The matter that our political circles are not doing such a reservation, causes certain doubt on whether they are perfectly democratic.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
