Russian vice-speaker admits Armenia`s forepost role
The vice-speaker of Russia`s State Duma ((lower
house of parliament) has admitted that Armenia is his country`s
outpost in the strategically-important South Caucasus region.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who chairs the Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), told local the RIA Novosti news agency that the Armenian establishment fears losing the Kremlin`s backing due to the country`s being encircled by Azerbaijan and Turkey, the two countries with which Yerevan faces long-standing hostility. Zhirinovsky indirectly confirmed that Armenia is, essentially, a country whose people have fled in huge numbers, saying it currently has a population of only 1.5 million.
``There are 8 million people in Azerbaijan and 70 million in Turkey. How can one resist them? Therefore, Armenians want to always maintain their military alliance with Russia or remain linked to it politically,`` the vice-speaker concluded.
Zhirinovsky also blamed Armenians for ousting the Russian minority from their country. In 1991, at the time of the Soviet Union`s collapse, it was Armenians who pressured Russians the most among neighboring countries. As a result, there are essentially no Russians left in the South Caucasus republic, which is not the case for Azerbaijan, Georgia as well as Central Asia, said Zhirinovsky.
``Armenians have ousted everyone, and this speaks volumes about their attitude towards us. Roots of ancient and severe nationalism have taken hold there [in Armenia].
``Armenians are a miserable nation. They have been fighting wars throughout their lives and have always lost because their numbers are small. If they hadn`t pled for Russia`s help, they would have perished. We have bailed them out,`` the LDPR leader said.
Then, however, Zhirinovsky attempted to appease Armenians, saying Moscow should defend everyone who embraces Russia, including Armenians in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azerbaijani region currently under Armenian occupation.
Distorting historical facts, Zhirinovsky claimed that Upper Garabagh is a historical Armenian land.
``Armenians have always lived there. If we help to return Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijan, a fresh stand-off will emerge between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Upper Garabagh Armenians do not want to live within Azerbaijan…Everything will end in either Upper Garabagh being annexed to Armenia or its becoming an independent state. Both Upper Garabagh and the Dnestr region [in Moldova] should be recognized as independent states.``
Upper Garabagh has been occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about one million Azerbaijanis from their homes. Though the separatist regime in Upper Garabagh declared so-called independence in 1991, defying international law, it has not been recognized by the world community.
Zhirinovsky said, further, that a bloc called ``the Russia Union`` should be established, in lieu of the former Soviet bloc CIS, with the Caucasus states represented in it. The vice-speaker added that he would like for this organization to be similar to the European Union.
Commenting on the statement, Vladimir Dorokhin, the Russian ambassador in Baku, said Zhirinovsky`s views do not reflect the Kremlin`s stance. Regarding the fact that Zhirinovsky is Russia`s vice-speaker, the ambassador said this merely resulted from the division of political powers in the legislature.
``Zhirinovsky is a leader of an opposition party. He holds a position in the State Duma due to a system allowing members of major parties to be represented there. The views he expressed on Upper Garabagh are not those of Russia, but are his own stance.``
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who chairs the Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), told local the RIA Novosti news agency that the Armenian establishment fears losing the Kremlin`s backing due to the country`s being encircled by Azerbaijan and Turkey, the two countries with which Yerevan faces long-standing hostility. Zhirinovsky indirectly confirmed that Armenia is, essentially, a country whose people have fled in huge numbers, saying it currently has a population of only 1.5 million.
``There are 8 million people in Azerbaijan and 70 million in Turkey. How can one resist them? Therefore, Armenians want to always maintain their military alliance with Russia or remain linked to it politically,`` the vice-speaker concluded.
Zhirinovsky also blamed Armenians for ousting the Russian minority from their country. In 1991, at the time of the Soviet Union`s collapse, it was Armenians who pressured Russians the most among neighboring countries. As a result, there are essentially no Russians left in the South Caucasus republic, which is not the case for Azerbaijan, Georgia as well as Central Asia, said Zhirinovsky.
``Armenians have ousted everyone, and this speaks volumes about their attitude towards us. Roots of ancient and severe nationalism have taken hold there [in Armenia].
``Armenians are a miserable nation. They have been fighting wars throughout their lives and have always lost because their numbers are small. If they hadn`t pled for Russia`s help, they would have perished. We have bailed them out,`` the LDPR leader said.
Then, however, Zhirinovsky attempted to appease Armenians, saying Moscow should defend everyone who embraces Russia, including Armenians in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azerbaijani region currently under Armenian occupation.
Distorting historical facts, Zhirinovsky claimed that Upper Garabagh is a historical Armenian land.
``Armenians have always lived there. If we help to return Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijan, a fresh stand-off will emerge between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Upper Garabagh Armenians do not want to live within Azerbaijan…Everything will end in either Upper Garabagh being annexed to Armenia or its becoming an independent state. Both Upper Garabagh and the Dnestr region [in Moldova] should be recognized as independent states.``
Upper Garabagh has been occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about one million Azerbaijanis from their homes. Though the separatist regime in Upper Garabagh declared so-called independence in 1991, defying international law, it has not been recognized by the world community.
Zhirinovsky said, further, that a bloc called ``the Russia Union`` should be established, in lieu of the former Soviet bloc CIS, with the Caucasus states represented in it. The vice-speaker added that he would like for this organization to be similar to the European Union.
Commenting on the statement, Vladimir Dorokhin, the Russian ambassador in Baku, said Zhirinovsky`s views do not reflect the Kremlin`s stance. Regarding the fact that Zhirinovsky is Russia`s vice-speaker, the ambassador said this merely resulted from the division of political powers in the legislature.
``Zhirinovsky is a leader of an opposition party. He holds a position in the State Duma due to a system allowing members of major parties to be represented there. The views he expressed on Upper Garabagh are not those of Russia, but are his own stance.``
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