ANOTHER LETTER TO THE “RUSSIAN KING”

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[07:51 pm] 13 June, 2006

Today representatives of the Armenian Intelligentsia assembled to
discuss the recent murders of the Armenians in Russia trying to find
out the ways to make Russia understand that their “patience is not
boundless and has already exhausted.”

It was decided to release a joint letter to the Armenian and Russian
media and to RF President Vladimir Putin. The letter addressed to
Putin is not ready yet whereas the other one is already ready.

Judging by the contents of the letter the main responsibility is put
on the RA Foreign Ministry and the Embassies of the two countries.

President of the Writers’ Union Levon Ananyan noted that “we cannot
remember the bright pages of Armenian-Russian relations because of
the recent frequent murders.”

Politician Vsevolod Marian was also invited to the roundtable. The
latter was the councilor of Foreign Minister on the issues relating
to ethnic minorities in 1999 – 2001. He claims that mainly Armenians
are to be blamed in the current situation as don’t respond to the
murders in due order. “Armenians are the only nation among the post
Soviet countries who silently get adjusted to the murders of their
compatriots.”

The Russian politician also illustrated certain numbers which, in his
words, are kept in secret. About 3 thousand Armenians were killed in
Russia because of national hostility. When Vsevolod Marian came to
Armenia he presented the data to RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
as well and demanded to answer which measures are taken by Armenian
authorities to prevent the murders of Armenians in Russia and to punish
the criminals. “We don’t face such problem. We are in good friendly
relations,” was Oskanian’s answer in Marian’s words. He was surely
astonished by the answer. “If a person has no respect towards himself,
his country he will enjoy respect nowhere in the world.” By the way,
in comparison with the Armenian intelligentsia the Russian politician
is convinced that the events of Russia are against Armenians, the
murderers are deliberate and are financed by a special group.

The idea of the respond answer frightened the Armenian intelligentsia
who later announced that they mustn’t be involved in politics and
instigate the atmosphere of hostility, they must be vigilant and
watchful so that the settlement of relations will not convert to
serious and complicated problems.

Anyway, all the participants of the roundtable were unanimous that
“Russians must understand that Armenians are indignant.” But the
representatives of the intelligentsia couldn’t concentrate on the
right solution of the matter. They confessed that the matter is
closely connected with the unity of the nation which doesn’t exist.

It is due to mention that the Russian Ambassador to Armenia didn’t
participate in the roundtable.