In the last some years even more often rise a split theme in the Crimean Tatar national movement. The self-proclaimed parliament of the Crimean Tatar people of Medzhlis denies it. During too time, even more often and more actively declared by oppositional to Medzhlis Crimean Tatar organisation Milli Firka.

Chairman of Kenesh (Council) of Milli Firka Vasvi Abduraimov has agreed to answer questions of the correspondent «Simultaneously».

— Tell about the organisation «Milli Firka» headed by you.

— A story of Milli Firka is almost a century. Outstanding political figures of the Crimean Tatar people of the beginning of the last century were party founders. In same as today a serious social and economic, geopolitical break in Crimea there was a galaxy of figures which understood necessity to make all to secure both the people, and Crimea against accident political, accidents human. So on a political arena there was party Milli Firka.

The care of own people and of interests of all Crimea was the main task of our predecessors, first of all. The slogan «Crimea for Crimeans» became not casually slogan of Milli Firka proclaimed one of its leaders Noman Chelebidzhihan. Under Crimeans he meant all inhabitants of Crimea who considered Crimea as the native land, irrespective of a nationality, creed, language etc.

Unfortunately, the destiny of our predecessors was tragic. There have come times of severe terror, and practically all of them have been destroyed. Even those who has shown loyalty to the new power. Milli Firka of that period was the first experience on creation of such political institute as party in Crimean Tatar environment.

At the time of Soviet Union there was an one-party system and about revival of national political party could not be and speeches. Therefore self-organising of the Crimean Tatars was expressed in the form of such unique phenomenon as National movement.

After destruction of totalitarian system and mass returning of the Crimean Tatars to Crimea again with all sharpness there were questions: «Where to go?», «whom to co-operate with?», » whom to be on friendly terms with?» For the sake of nation revival in new historical conditions after semicentenial absence of the people in the national territory, without own statehood.

It (nation) became absolutely another, the ethnic structure of peninsula has changed, the political vector of Crimea has changed. Now peninsula — a part of unitary Ukraine. And the same problems: to rescue and revive the nation, to define optimum model of joint life on the Crimean peninsula with other national communities still, remain actual.

In due time responsibility for answers to these questions was incurred by Congress of the Crimean Tatar people — Kurultaj which was passing in 1991. At an initial stage it has played a certain consolidating role — many questions connected with returning and arrangement in Crimea of compatriots have been solved. But eventually Kurultaj and Milli Medzhlis especially created by it have regenerated in totalitarian system, as well as the CPSU. From the decision national and allcrimean problems leaders of Medzhlis have hit in all heavy, in dirty intrigues to please interests of separate heads of this structure, as has led to system crisis. Returning of our compatriots from dispatch places where remains even more 100 thousand Crimean Tatars has been stopped, constructive communications with diasporas of near and far abroad have practically broken, conditions of legalisation, reception of citizenship for returning home compatriots more and more began to become tougher. I do not speak about social and economic sphere in which today deeply and seriously anybody actually is not engaged.

Behind gamble on a problem exclusively mercenary purposes of separate functionaries of Medzhlis and state officials from among the Crimean Tatars dared. As a result: all it began to call aversion in bottoms. The active part conscious of the Crimean Tatar population began to reflect. What to do in this situation? How to leave from this deadlock in which so-called national leaders have tired out the people?

In the summer of 2006, in any way not connected neither the elective companies, nor other political projects, in Simferopol veterans of National movement, representatives of intelligency, the political structures, patriotically adjusted youth have gathered.

People have gathered a different spectrum: and passed school of National movement of the Crimean Tatars, and rigid atmosphere kurultaj-medzhlis. Began to reflect: as well as what to do in this, apparently, a desperate situation? Especially, considering difficult processes which occur in the Ukraine: the country breaks up on two parts, there is no combination civilized, economic, and the so-called political elite of Ukraine in a race for power has actually ceased to be engaged in government programs of economy, social sphere and so on. In this situation it was necessary for someone to show the initiative.

The Organizing committee has been created, some meetings are spent. Send as a result to that it is necessary to arm the people with modern political institute — to create high-grade political party which absolutely legally and on the lawful bases, within the limits of a legal field in which today there is Crimea, will compete for the power, first of all, in Crimea. It is necessary that through imperious levers to start to direct that least order which will provide to people a normal human life.

Eventually, have come to opinion that it is necessary for us to revive party Milli Firka. Therefore as well as ideas, and strategy of Milli Firka of the beginning of the last century were approximately same, as well as we had.

In November, 2006 there has passed the first constituent conference of the organisation on which the decision on revival and building of the party organisation was accepted. Unfortunately, complexities of legal character do not allow wished in one stage to transform in an end-product. There are the certain procedures connected with the Ukrainian legislation: it forbids to create parties of regional level and demands construction of party structures not less than in 2/3 regions of Ukraine. At an initial stage we have registered Milli Firka as public organisation, by the notice. The ultimate goal — to leave on legal check in of Milli Firka as allukrainian political party.

— What does the symbolics of Milli Firka mean?

— The symbolics of Milli Firka has deep historical and modern sense. Colour of the clear Crimean sky — traditional colour of the Crimean Tatar people. It is a symbol of Turkis. In the centre — an ancient Turkic symbol: tagma ErSu (the Earth and Water) — the Native land symbol.

Pay attention, ours tagma — rising up national tagma. As in our symbol it is easy to see the main Crimean symbol — mountain Chatyr Dag with two tops: Angara — the Breaker and the Eklizi-breaker at which foot the main Crimean river Salgir originates.

The white background means the truth, cleanliness, light. If to take Islamic theosophy it is a throne of the Allah, Supreme.

— How does Milli Firka participate in a life of the Crimean Tatars?

— For scale work at us not too it is a lot of resources, but work, certainly we conduct. As to distribution of financial streams of which 20 years undividedly dispose of Medzhlis where they have left, is better to answer misters from this structure.

Milli Firka is created and to put things in order in that brothel where all this corruption kitchen of Medzhlis cooks. Scandal stories of squandering, plundering of the state resources, sponsor’s resources, the international streams already became the talk of the town.

While Milli Firka has no enough resources to solve on a substantial scale concrete problems, concrete people. But we hope that that program which we offer people, will receive complete support of compatriots and the peninsula population, we will come to the power and through imperious institutes we will solve, including, and problems of each concrete Crimean Tatar, but, first of all, it is a question of the decision of problems of national character. It both legal, and economic, both social, and cultural, and humanitarian spheres. That is, all that, as to vital interests of the Crimean Tatar people and Crimea as a whole.

— Financing of Milli Firka whence proceeds? Often it is possible to hear that you are finances by Party of Regions…

— Milli Firka, in difference from Medzhlis — exclusively internal project of the Crimean Tatar people. Therefore the party to be on self-financing of party members and those many-many people who support aspiration of Milli Firka to guide an elementary human order and justice in Crimea.

— How can you comment on the statement of Medzhlisa, for that that Milli Firka in difference from Kurultaja is not elective body of the Crimean Tatar people and consequently cannot represent the Crimean Tatars?

— We, first of all, represent the party. The main difference of Miili Firka from Medzhlis that if election at us in party accept according to what demanded from party members by the charter and the party program there is simulated. Milli Firka — not a double-exit courtyard for any rascals and hunters of ranks. And how much our activity corresponds or does not correspond to interests of the Crimean Tatar people — it will judge the people. For example, last elections in the first tour have shown that a position of Milli Firka, urged not to support any of candidates, 58 % of our compatriots, and a position of leaders of Medzhlis — less than 29 % have supported.

So who represents interests of the Crimean Tatars more: Medzhlis or Milli Firka?

— It turns out so that in Crimea there two influential the Crimean Tatar organisations operate: Milli Medzhlis and Milli Firka. Whether it means, that there was a split there is no time uniform national movement?

— It is impossible to tell that Crimean Tatar movement is any monolithic substance. In Soviet Union isolated initiative groups of national movement in places of residing of the Crimean Tatars on dispatch operated. But all at them had an accurate principle, strategy: the people Order is a homecoming, restoration of statehood, the rights, stories, language and so on. The people order united, apparently, the isolated, not connected structurally, initiative groups not connected structurally in a single whole. The unity of National movement consisted in it: not in structural, namely in the ideological, world outlook plan.

When Kurultaj revived and the Declaration «About the national sovereignty of the Crimean Tatar people» was accepted, there too there were forces which could unite the nation. Really at an initial stage round Kurultaja 90 percent of the Crimean Tatars have been united almost.

But after the policy of heads of these structures began to depart from base principles, people began to depart from this structure. That is, when the policy of the centre began to disperse from understanding and outlook of compatriots and there was this break between Medzhlis and the Crimean Tatar people

There was that force (Milli Firka) which aspires to unite today an active part of the nation in a uniform fist. Our purpose — to revive those base principles which were defended also by our predecessors in Milli Firka, and National movement, and initial movements of revived Kurultaj.

You have mentioned a problem of returning of the Crimean Tatars, however it is known that many of them live not only in territory of the former USSR, but also behind its limits. What for them it is provided?

— We clearly imagine problems and a condition of the Crimean Tatar people as a whole. For example: for those who remained on dispatch, returning to Crimea is actual. They cannot independently solve this question. There are thousand barriers, five — six borders, different citizenship… I do not speak about arrangement questions. Therefore for them the homecoming program will be offered.

As to diasporas. Crimean Tatars living in Romania consider that there they should light the new centre. They consider Romania as the second native land. For them the main problem is preservation of language, national identity, a cultural contact with the Native land. For them it is not necessary a returning question to Crimea.

For the Crimean Tatars (is more correct than descendants of the Crimean Tatars), living in Turkey (an order of 2-5 million person), basically is not necessary a returning problem to Crimea. They are entered for a long time in system of Turkish values and priorities. For them borders on own self-affirmation (in respect of business, a science, educations etc.) are not present. They comfortably enough feel both in Turkey, and in Germany, and in Canada… And thus save close connections with Turkey.

For them we would like to offer integration cultural and economic. As from those investments which it is possible and it is necessary to involve to Crimea, using this factor, will receive dividends not only the Crimean Tatars, but also all peninsula.

The unity of the nation is not provided only with residing in one territory. Now on the foreground there is a creation of a uniform information field. If the person where he would not live, has an easy approach in a national information field — he feels himself as a part of the uniform ethnoworld. Certainly, thus the parent kernel of the people in national territory which would generate those basic types (culture, language should be saved…) very naturally, also that this kernel would be protected and legislatively, and state institutes.

At such system, there is absolutely clear a modern system of existence of mankind: there are kernels in national territories and is free enough in the choice of diaspora of the people which provide this communication, being even in the environment of other people, feel absolutely comfortably, without causing inconveniences to local indigenous population.

— You assert that people depart from Medzhlis. Medzhlis in turn, speaks about desertion in the ranks of Milli Firka…

— Know, last business to consider bayonets. It is more productive to have conversation on degree of support of compatriots.

We have analysed presidential election on which each of political forces positioned itself in appropriate way. Though Milli Medzhlis in the opened did not urge to support Yulia Timoshenko in the first tour, was said that it is necessary to vote and support actively those candidates who adhere to a principle of Euro-Atlantism. Clearly about whom there was a speech. From its part and Milli Firka was defined with the position — the nation credit to a management of Ukraine is settled, therefore we have urged compatriots not to support anybody from candidates.

Have counted figures: less than half (48 %) of Crimean Tatar voters has come on elections, that is 52 % having voted feet, actually made common cause with us. From those who voted — 3 % against all and 3 % have spoilt bulletins. Total coincidence to a position of Milli Firka makes 58 %.

Yulia Timoshenko has supported less than 29 %.

It is not just words, and the strict scientific analysis of results on 12 polling districts, and in a cut of all Crimea (Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Evpatoria, Belogorsk, Simferopol area, Pervomaisky area). From this it follows that support of a position of Medzhlis by the Crimean Tatars has made less than 29 %

— Could you tell some positions of programs of Milli Firka, and also specify in distinction with the program of Medzhlis?

— The most important difference of policy Milli Firka, from a policy of leaders of Medzhlis that they deny any cooperation with not Tatar population in Crimea, thus make common cause with the most extreme nationalist forces of Ukraine. We with such policy do not agree and we consider that as Crimean Tatar, and Russian problems can be solved successfully only at close cooperation with with whom nearby live.

Real (instead of declared) program of leaders of Medzhlis finally will lead to disappearance of the Crimean Tatar people as ethnos. Our program is directed on nation revival as one of phenomena of a human civilisation. Here the main difference.

— With whom would you never agree to co-operate?

We will never co-operate with those who sows the difference between the people.

To us on the way with what aspirations are directed on protection of the rights of simple people and to strengthening of a civil society in Crimea are our potential allies…

— Your immediate tasks?

— At the given stage our purpose to become parliamentary force to be presented in local authorities. And concrete work to show, than representatives of the people in authorities should be engaged.

Edgar GRIGORYAN talked