Russia major threat to region – diplomat

Speaking at a debate in Yerevan, Olexander Bozhko said he doesn’t understand the reasons behind Russia’s concerns over Crimea.

“All this was unexpected, because every nation has a right to change its government. But because the president fled from the country, Rada [the Ukrainian parliament] had to shoulder the entire responsibility, which it really did. It sounds strange that Russia should be so concerned that it has seized Crimea and mobilized the troops. Their imagination seems to be brighter; so they had better write novels or shoot movies,” he noted.

The diplomat said he thinks the Russian policies a major challenge to the centuries-old friendship between the Russian and Ukrainian nations.

He said it is now difficult to predict an outcome, adding that the continuing tension undermines the foundations of the country’s security.

“Russia had elaborated this project many years before, and whenever we, the representatives of the CIS countries, gathered together to discuss the important issue, the plan was in the lock box, as a matter of fact,” he said, describing the Russian policies as a major blow to his country’s people.

As for the West’s position on the situation in Ukraine and the autonomous region of Crimea, Bozhko said he is of a positive scenario of developments. He called for all countries to switch over to dialogue from the use of weapons.