Ukraine to retain ties with Armenia regardless of Crimea vote: diplomat

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine is not going to sever diplomatic relations with Armenia, a Ukrainian embassy counselor said Thursday, March 27, according to ARKA.

"Our country has no plans to make a demarche against Armenia. We have resolved this question and the ambassador will be back to Armenia next week," Igor Roman said during a Yerevan-hosted discussion on the Ukrainian crisis and its impact on international relations.

Ambassador Ivan Kukhta was recalled on March 21 for consultation following Yerevan’s statement on the referendum in Crimea.

In a telephone conversation on March 19, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the referendum in Crimea “constitutes another case of exercising peoples’ right to self-determination through free expression of will.” Ukraine responded to the statement by officially recalling its ambassador from Armenia, warning of serious damage to bilateral ties because of Armenia’s recognition of the annexation of Crimea.

According to Roman, Ukraine does not intend to reduce its diplomatic presence in Armenia or rupture diplomatic relations with Armenia even if it votes against a UN resolution on the Crimea later today (March 27) in New York. He added, however, that Armenia’s voting would become a "litmus test" for Ukraine to shape its future policy on Armenia.

On March 26, a spokesman for Armenian Foreign Ministry said Yerevan will abstain from voting on UN General Assembly’s draft resolution on Ukraine.

The resolution urges all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution of the situation in Ukraine, "refrain from unilateral actions and inflammatory rhetoric that may increase tensions, and to engage fully with international mediation efforts."