Expert: Homeland-Diaspora relations to benefit Armenian-Ukrainian ties

PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior fellow at the Institute of Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea and Caspian region commented on Azerbaijani media attempts to draw the Ukraine into anti-Armenian propaganda campaign.

“Azeri publications proved that a struggle is waged also for material resources,” Andrei Areshev said in interview with Analitika.at.ua.

“Diaspora-building artificial measures by governmental resources are doomed to failure. As far as I understand such a situation is not exclusive to the Ukraine,” he said.

“However, Armenians can boast a developed culture and social life in Ukraine. Inclusion of Armenian in the list of regional languages and Ukraine’s minority languages is linked to the fact,” he said.

According to the expert, effective motherland-Diaspora ties may positively affect Armenian-Ukrainian relations, considering Kiev’s interest in Azerbaijan’s energy resources and transit function. In this context, Mr. Areshev stressed Ukraine as one of the leading arms supplier to Azerbaijan.

“NGOs’ active operation fosters intensification of ties on governmental level. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II’s August 11 visit to the Ukraine reaffirms the cultural complementarily between the two nations,” he said, adding that the number of Azerbaijanis in the Ukraine ranges from “official” 45 thous. to unofficial 250 thous.

“Migration is a common trend in post-Soviet states, regardless of their oil and gas deposits, as well as political and ideological models,” the expert said.