Ukraine urges Armenia to review stance on Crimea, recalls envoy

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is urging Armenia to reconsider its position on Crimea and the referendum held there on March 16, Deputy Foreign Minister said.

“We are disappointed with reports on Armenia’s position regarding the issue. We have already invited the Armenian ambassador to express our concerns and gave certain instructions to our envoy in Yerevan. We also sent a note requesting explanation on Armenia’s position,” Danilo Lubkivski said, when asked whether Kyiv can sever diplomatic relations with Yerevan.

“Now we are waiting for the answer,” he said, adding that Armenia’s “unfriendly position may have undesirable consequences for bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, head of the MFA division for information policy Evgeny Perebiynis said the Ukrainian ambassador to Armenia, Ivan Kuhta, was recalled for consultations.

Kuhta, himself, told a news conference in Yerevan that the embassy informed the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry about Armenia’s position on the recent developments that was voiced during a phone conversation between the Presidents of Armenia and Russia. “I can’t provide comments, but can say that each country has the right to have its stance,” he said.

On Wednesday, March 19, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin discussed a number of issues regarding bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues, including the crisis in Ukraine. As for the Crimea referendum, the two men said it came as an example of realization of the right of nations to self-determination.

Ambassador Kuhta also dwelled on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, saying that Ukraine supports its peaceful resolution in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

As to the statement by Dmitry Yarosh, the leader of ultranationalist group Right Sector, who spoke of “recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, with Nagorno Karabakh included,” amb. Kuhta said it’s not the position of official Ukraine.

The U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern, expressed regret over Armenia’s stance on the Crimea referendum. He described as “very unfortunate” President Sargsyan’s statement to that effect made during the phone conversation with Putin. Heffern said both NATO and the United States tried to find peaceful ways to settle the crisis, but Russia did not heed their proposals.