Aug 22 2022
India is powerful nation, can take independent decisions:
Armenia Ambassador on Ukraine row
Armenia Ambassador on Ukraine row
By BD Naraayannkar
Bengaluru, Aug 22 (UNI)
Commenting on India's neutral stand on Ukraine imbroglio that has
"riled" US allies, Armenia Ambassador to India Youri Babakhanian said India can afford to take
independent decisions because it is a powerful nation.
"riled" US allies, Armenia Ambassador to India Youri Babakhanian said India can afford to take
independent decisions because it is a powerful nation.
"In fact it is a very complicated issue. To answer, it needs time but I would like to answer. I can
tell you that India is an independent and powerful enough state and can afford to take
independent decisions," he told UNI in an exclusive interview here late Sunday night on the
sidelines of India-Armenia Conference 2022.
tell you that India is an independent and powerful enough state and can afford to take
independent decisions," he told UNI in an exclusive interview here late Sunday night on the
sidelines of India-Armenia Conference 2022.
He replied to a question related to the disappointment of the US allies on India's neutral stance
on the Russo-Ukraine war.
on the Russo-Ukraine war.
The statement is in line with India's External Affairs Minister Dr Subramaniam Jaishankar's,
who had earlier outlined India's position in the Russo-Ukraine conflict by emphasising that
India was not sitting on the fence, but was rather entitled to its own opinion when it came to
foreign policy.
who had earlier outlined India's position in the Russo-Ukraine conflict by emphasising that
India was not sitting on the fence, but was rather entitled to its own opinion when it came to
foreign policy.
"… Forget the history and civilisation bit; everybody knows that. I feel I am entitled to have my
own side. I am entitled to weigh my own interests, and make my own choices. My choices will
not be cynical and transactional. They will be a balance of my values and my interests. There is
no country in the world which disregards its interests," he said earlier addressing GLOBESEC
2022 Bratislava Forum (Slovakia).
own side. I am entitled to weigh my own interests, and make my own choices. My choices will
not be cynical and transactional. They will be a balance of my values and my interests. There is
no country in the world which disregards its interests," he said earlier addressing GLOBESEC
2022 Bratislava Forum (Slovakia).
India has refused to openly call out Russia as the instigator of the Ukraine crisis and abstained
from successive votes in the UN Security Council, General Assembly, and Human Rights Council
that condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine.
from successive votes in the UN Security Council, General Assembly, and Human Rights Council
that condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Asked if there was a pressure from EU to toe their line on Ukraine imbroglio, Babakhanian said
there is no pressure from it because Armenia is a small actor and not a decision-maker in the big
political maps.
there is no pressure from it because Armenia is a small actor and not a decision-maker in the big
political maps.
Like India, Armenia also has adopted a neutral position vis-a-vis Ukraine. It has not openly
called out Russia as an aggressor state. It also abstained from voting on a UN security resolution
calling for Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.
called out Russia as an aggressor state. It also abstained from voting on a UN security resolution
calling for Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.
Armenia also abstained from an urgent debate on the war in the UN Human Rights Council.
However, the country has a pretty good relations with the US and EU, Babakhanian said.
"Our relations with Russia is pretty good. We are allies. We are members of the same
organisations. We are members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group. So, we don't have problems with
Russia. Russia is a closest ally of Armenia, but at the same we have pretty good relations with
Europe and the United States," he said.
"Our relations with Russia is pretty good. We are allies. We are members of the same
organisations. We are members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group. So, we don't have problems with
Russia. Russia is a closest ally of Armenia, but at the same we have pretty good relations with
Europe and the United States," he said.
"Armenia is a small country and its policy has always been based on complementary principles.
But if we have some good relations with someone, it is not at the expense of our other parties. So
we are trying to make policies based on complementary principles," Babakhanian said.
But if we have some good relations with someone, it is not at the expense of our other parties. So
we are trying to make policies based on complementary principles," Babakhanian said.
Asked about Islamabad's nefarious role in Jammu and Kashmir region, Babakhanian termed
Pakistan as a destabilising entity and added that the J&K issue should be solved on fair
principles of international law that supports India's position.
Pakistan as a destabilising entity and added that the J&K issue should be solved on fair
principles of international law that supports India's position.
"That is why Armenia is on India's
side," he said.
Commenting on Pakistani mercenaries supporting Azerbaijan in the 2020 war against Armenia,
Babkhanian said it cannot be taken positively and cannot ignore the trilateral military
side," he said.
Commenting on Pakistani mercenaries supporting Azerbaijan in the 2020 war against Armenia,
Babkhanian said it cannot be taken positively and cannot ignore the trilateral military
cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan against his country.
"These are the two faces of the same medal (Pakistan). Of course we cannot take the movement
of Pakistan in Azerbaijan. This trilateral military cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Pakistan, which is obviously against Armenia, also cannot be taken lightly. The participation of
Pakistani mercenaries in the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was criticised by us," he said.
of Pakistan in Azerbaijan. This trilateral military cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Pakistan, which is obviously against Armenia, also cannot be taken lightly. The participation of
Pakistani mercenaries in the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was criticised by us," he said.
Earlier in an interview to a news channel, Armenia's Finance Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had said
that any involvement of mercenary forces aggravates the situation as it brings a wider regional
aspect to a local conflict.
"Such actions always leave a long-lasting, negative impact on the regional situation even after it
is stabilised," he added.
that any involvement of mercenary forces aggravates the situation as it brings a wider regional
aspect to a local conflict.
"Such actions always leave a long-lasting, negative impact on the regional situation even after it
is stabilised," he added.
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