You are ruining what was built for decades: Ex DM to Pashinyan

Former defense minister Vigen Sargsyan has referred in an extended Facebook post to the foreign policy by Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and its outcome describing “new Armenia’s” foreign policy as “boring or more right to say unpleasant film.”

“I am writing this on the background of Pashinyan’s American fiasco which became clear after the visit of the U.S. President’s Assistant on National Security Affairs Bolton to Armenia. For the first time the Armenian-American official dialogue was aimed not at clarification of mutual interests and approaches but informing about the interests of one side to the other. An impression was as if Bolton was not U.S. President’s advisor but the Armenian PM’s  and came to hint what should be done and what should not,” Sargsyan wrote, saying that it is not clear why this time unlike in Moscow the PM failed to voice the principal of not interfering into affairs of one another.

Making conclusions on Bolton’s visit, former DM wrote.

“- Armenia must get rid of its “historic clichés”. Turkey? I think yes.
- At the upcoming elections the PM needs high vote to be able to make decisions in Karabakh conflict settlement not favorable for Armenia.

Bolton reiterated not only Azerbaijan’s claim that Armenia is to be blamed for own blockage but justified the closing of the border by Turkey and its justification – Turkey’s policy of supporting  Azerbaijan in Karabakh issue.
- Armenia should not expect new assistance and direct investments from USA.
- Armenia must finally become independent. Bolton’s remark relates to Armenia’s strategic ally – Russia.
- The USA does not deny that it sold and may continue selling weaponry to Azerbaijan and if Armenia wants it can also buy U.S. weapons instead of Russian.
- In Iranian issue Armenia does not have alternative but fully apply U.S. sanctions. A statement on compressing the ring over Iran was made from the territory of Armenia – Iran’s neighbor and friend country.

In diplomacy not only the content is very important by the time and the place the statements are being voiced. Till now Armenia’s partners were sensitive while making statements about Armenia’s neighbors and friends in the Armenian territory or at the meetings with Armenian officials. Who or what untied them in “new Armenia”." 

“I do not know what was spoken behind closed doors but if the above mentioned was the open part the rest may be guessed and one may get terrified. Terrified of how in six months the state which had balanced foreign policy, which was respected, trusted and the position of which was considered, turned into a country while speaking about which foreign diplomats and officials do not even stop for a minute to think about its [Armenia’s interests],” he wrote.

Referring to the comparison of American and Russian weapons, Sargsyan stressed that even international experts do not subordinate the Russian weaponry to American, and Armenia as a CSTO member state has by now received it with available loan programs or as an assistance and has all the necessary technical base and specialists for its preservation.

“Bolton understands all very clearly. His statement was not a proposal to Armenia to buy American weapon but justification of selling it to Azerbaijan,” he wrote, adding that having a big experience and huge stores of spare parts of American weaponry, Turkey will help Azerbaijan in the issue.

Referring to the sanctions against Iran, the ex DM said there are not the first ones in USA-Iran relations, and Armenia has always tried to find the medium which allowed to maintain the demands of the international right but at the same time carry out important joint programs with Iran.

“The U.S. partners have always treated our vital interests with understanding and never threatened us with “complicated Iranian border”. As a result of the visit we learned that Armenia may soon be involved in the anti-Iranian policy which is a threat not only for Armenia but the whole region as well,” Sargsyan stressed.

Referring to Armenian Genocide issue, Sargsyan wrote that the American administrations have always been greedy in appropriate assessment of the Armenian genocide but they have always felt constrained of it. “Sometimes they urged Armenia to continue efforts for restoring relations and always highly appreciated efforts of the Armenian authorities in doing it. But instead of calling on Turkey to come into terms with its own history like Obama did so in Ankara, now the USA called on Armenia to “get rid of historical clichés” which is rather new and undesirable approach in the U.S. policy,” Sargsyan wrote, expressing hope that the U.S.-Armenian community will respond to it.

“So which is the main message stemming from Armenia’s interests during Bolton’s visit. Ask PM Pashinyan. I have not found anything at least in the public part of the visit,” Sargsyan wrote.

He also warned Pashinyan not to put the blame of the failure on the specialists of the sphere who are neither revolutionary not counter-revolutionary but continue serving their homeland.  

“In serious issues it would be right to listen to their opinions and not the adventurers who were closing the streets, building barricades, dividing people into blacks and whites and dizzied from sharp carrier rise. The mistakes in this sphere are hardly restorable and may become fatal,” he wrote stressing that being the main responsible for the foreign policy the acting PM is ruining all that was created for decades. “If you fail to correct the situation as soon as possible, if you do not guide the situation the possibilities of professionals will continue limiting like during the past six months. Of course it is good that you are trying to be available for the people. But the ministers, ambassadors, advisors are also people. You should sometimes receive and listen to them as well,” he wrote.