Recently, in the conversation with Aravot.am, RPA faction member Khosrov Harutyunyan, referring to the recognition of independence of Crimea, said the following, “I do not think that Armenian should be the first to welcome it. We should have good relations with future Ukraine, because we have a vast presence of Armenian-origin population there and we should not forget about them. For us, Armenians, the situation is a little different and from this viewpoint, we should be prudent and possibly not to hurry, because the pressures are not ruled out.” In reverse to these words, yesterday, Serzh Sargsyan, by his own initiative, called Vladimir Putin and welcomed the results of the referendum in Crimea as the next in turn example for exercising people’s right to self-determination through the expression of free will. In this regard, to our question of whether, in fact, Serzh Sargsyan with his move demonstrated haste and did it wrong, today, Khosrov Harutyunyan rather denied that he had said such a thing.
“I have not said that Armenia should be one of the first to welcome it, the matter it about official recognition. In my whole interview I had said that we, Armenians, should treat the Crimean referendum based on the fact that we have Artsakh that has self-determined and we had protected its right to self-determination. The point is not about welcome, but official recognition. With regard to official recognition, I think that as should possibly not hurry given that we have a normal, good-neighborly relations with Ukraine. We have a multi-thousand population Armenian community in Ukraine and we are obligated to make our political moves so carefully to avoid putting Armenians under the strike. I had said this and now I still think so. Official recognition is another legal dimension, whereas the conversation of the president, the two leaders, is quite different. The President of the Republic of Armenia could not be guided by the approached that I had said. Serzh Sargsyan’s conversation with Putin is still not an official recognition.” To our question that Serzh Sargsyan’s words is the approach of official Armenia and Armenia had welcomed Russia’s move, Khosrov Harutyunyan claimed that there is no contradiction between his words and the approach of Serzh Sargsyan. “It is a political sentiment rather than a legal act.” With regard to the same question, prior to publication of Serzh Sargsyan’s conversation, many the Republican Party members were reluctant to make comments and express any opinion. We inquired asking if you represent the Republican faction, whether you might have problems with your opinion, Khosrov Harutyunyan replied, “Why should I have problems? With whom? Up to now, our relationship with the Republican Party has been very good. I do not think that I am saying such bizarre things that is beyond the course of RPA’s political leadership or the authorities. I do not think so.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
