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TODAY, IN UKRAINE, THE WORLD IS REAPING THE OUTCOMES OF TURNING BACK TO ARMENIA IN 2008
February 20 2014
"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
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/02/20/163915/
February 20 2014
"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
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/02/20/163915/