The Crimea is really a painful topic for Ukraine. It is linked with two issues: Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Tatar population of the Crimea, Ukrainian political expert, Anna Shelest, told Arminfo correspondent over the on:line interview when replying to the question about the role of the Crimea in the talks between Moscow and Kiev.
"Actually, it is hard to call the Crimea the Russian land, as some pro-Russian radical parties try to present. The major part of the Russians settled there only after deportation of the Tatars after the World War II. For this reason, when somebody tells me that the Crimea should be given to Russia, I offer to give that to Turkey or Greece, as they used to rule there longer. To be serious, Tatars of the Crimea went to Kiev to support the Euromaidan, and Mejlis approved this decision", - she said.
Asked if there is a true threat of division of Ukraine to the western and eastern parts, the expert replied that an idea of separation of the country is always circulated by those which gain profit from distabilization of the situation in Ukraine. This does not mean that the regions do not differ, she said and added that over the history they were within different states, spoke different dialects, etc.