The topic of “Face to face” talk show of Aravot is discussed between Alexander Arzumanyan, NA MP, member of “Heritage” faction, and Gurgen Arsenyan, member of PAP faction.
Aram Abrahamyan – I want to start with a simple question that was much discussed yesterday. One of the Armenian General’s, who had made his contribution to Artsakh war, said that when Crimea joins Russia Karabakh should be included in the composition of Russia. Do you think it is a) possible, and b) desirable?
Alexander Arzumanyan – I’m not only totally against this kind of approach, moreover I consider the discussion of this topic dangerous. Generally, it is an outrage against the decision of our countrymen living in Nagorno-Karabakh. We all remember that 22 years ago Nagorno- Karabakh obtained self-determination, and this self-determination, unlike the Crimean, was the expression of people’s will, moreover, clearly realizing the global conjuncture of those days, Karabakh unilaterally gave up the desire to accede to Armenia, and by holding a referendum, decided to declare its independence as an intermediate step, which we fully supported. After that, Artsakh defended its independence over 2 years in the first phase of the imposed war against the Soviet army, moreover, established a security support zone. One of the most important issues of Armenia’s foreign policy, since that day, was to be the security guarantor for NKR, and leading to the international recognition as an independent statehood.
Gurgen Arsenyan – I have no desire to interfere in the debates of Generals, because they are people and each of them has its own view, and having a view is not a crime.
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A. A. – I read somewhere that Pandora’s Box was opened not by Crimea, but Kosovo. Do you agree?
Al. Arzumanyan – Absolutely, no. First, I can agree that each country is guided by its national interests, and application of double standards often happens in the international arena, it’s normal. The people of Kosovo, Albanians, solely decided to hold a referendum, after which the International Court reviewed it and stated that unilateral declaration is normal. This is a good precedent for us, and it is surprising that our brothers and sisters in Nagorno-Karabakh did not say anything. Here, I do not agree that you used the word “accession” here, there was an annexation here, in other words, the Russian army, which was stationed in the Crimea, forced to hold a referendum, there has no observer there. Using all of my connections, and possibilities, I have the impression that it is unlikely that 83 % of the population in Crimea provided the participation, and so on.
A. A. – Annexation or pressure? And is 97 percent lie or true?
G. A. – It was the manifestation of people’s will in Crimea. Why? I will introduce some arguments. Indeed, the presence of Russian troops was there: the Russian Black Sea naval base is deployed there, where there are tens of thousands servicemen there. If we view the population of Crimea from the prospective of the ethnic composition, first of all, the vast majority of Crimea’s population are ethnic Russians, rather than Ukrainians and Tatars, and this fermentation was available among Russian environment in the last 20 years, why the Crimea is in the composition of Ukraine. In 1954, Khrushchev’s decision led to the fact that they being ethnic Russians are living outside of their homeland, in the structure of another state. These fermentations were available, the movement to enter into the composition of Russia had always been, it did not appear in the Crimea accidentally, and did not accidentally become a thematic process. I do not exclude that there was some influence made on the outcomes of the referendum, however, I think that 75 percent of the result was guaranteed even when conducting the referendum under the most transparent, and democratic conditions. There are several factors, first of all during the vital activities of Ukrainian state, Crimea was the part of Ukraine, which was on the lowest socio-economic level, and the least attention was given to it by the central government. Let us not forget also that among 1,7-1,8 million population of Crimea, 500 000 were pensioners, mainly from Russians, and that there was a certain strive among the pensioners that they, being citizens of the Soviet Union, participants of the Soviet Union building, making their contribution, were seeing that they were receiving 2.5 times less pension than Russia’s pensioners.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show is implemented by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia. The views and analyzes found this program are expressing the opinions of the participants and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia or its Board. This program was made possible thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations – Armenia, within the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
