The situation in Crimea aroused concerns in a number of states that fear similar crises in their areas inhabited mainly by Russian-speakers. This crisis affected simultaneously three regions – the Black Sea, the post-Soviet and the Euro-Atlantic, Ukrainian expert Hanna Shelest said in an interview for IPN.
Hanna Shelest, who is a Senior Researcher at the Odessa Branch of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, said Turkey, which tried to keep its balance and partnership relations with Russia at the Black Sea up to the last moment, reacted very painfully to the situation of the Tatars in Crimea, promising them its full support. Belarus and Kazakhstan also started to worry about their regions populated largely by Russian-speakers. The U.S. and the EU were unprepared for such a twist and it turned out that none of the existing mechanisms – NATO, OSCE and the UN – are efficient.
“Ukraine is now undergoing transformations. It’s not just about the taking over of power. It’s about the demolition of the existing system. Not everyone is today ready for these transformations. But there are no other variants because society grew older radically in these three months. Unfortunately, the crisis in Crimea distracts attention from other important problems,” stated the expert.
She considers that the main reforms can be done immediately after the revolution, when the new government enjoys the people’s trust. There may be no other opportunity for the country.
Hanna Shelest said the situation in Crimea does not represent only a territorial problem of Ukraine. It can affect the international political and law situation as no state will be able to feel safe afterward.
On March 21, Ukraine will sign with the EU the political part of the Association Agreement. Hanna Shelest considers this is rather a manifestation of support on the part of the EU, while the unsafe situation in Crimea cannot influence its signing. It would be much harder to implement the economic part of the Association Agreement, but the European officials assured that particular economic barriers will be removed unilaterally, without waiting for the formal signing of the economic part.
The expert said the situation in Ukraine can serve as a very good example for Moldova, which should act and should devote more attention to the problematic regions and the people there.
