Armenian authorities 'too preoccupied’ with maintaining power to address foreign policy concerns – opinion

Armenia remains week in foreign policy affairs, with the authorites being too much preoccupied with the domestic concerns to give any attention at all to the existing problems in foreign relations, a political analyst said on Friday.

In an interview with Tert.am, Gagik Hambaryan cited particularly the cancelled friendship agreements between cities in France and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), highlighting also the ‟not quite smooth relations with Moscow" and the fragile situation in the region.

‟We are, in a way, contemptuous of Turkey's ambitions towards Nakhichevan. The problems are numberless indeed; yet the major task for the authorites is now essentially focused on maintaining power. [Prime Minister Nikol] Pashinyan came to power with his inexperienced team, committing errors of which his critics are now taking advantage,″ he said.

Addressing the foreign policy concerns, Hambaryan said he feels that ‟the partisan-style Zohrab Mnastsakanyan came to replace Edward Nalbandian,″ his predecessor.

‟The National Security Service and the minister of defense make headlines in the media more than does Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. Diplomacy must love publicity, because Turkey and Azerbaijan - agressive though it may be - do really pursue a diplomatic agenda. So our partisan-style work is not really perceived as something normal. It would be advisable for Zohrab Mnatsakanyan to be more vocal about the outcomes of his work. Once Charles Aznavour passed away, French courts revoked their cities' friendship memorandums of understanding with Artsakh,″ he noted.

Describing Pashinyan as “the most pro-Russian political figure”, the analyst recommended that the premier be “more cautious in his foreign policy preferences.  In his words, Moscow is somewhat skeptical about the kind of pro-Russian stance.

‟I would recommend a higher degree of caution. We ourselves request that Russia maintain a military base on the territory of Armenia. All the former presidents knew well what challenges Armenia might confront should the base not be there,″ he noted.

Hambaryan also recommended a more balanced attitude by the society when it comes to such sensitive matters. “I haven’t seen any foreign policy achievement so far,” he added.