On October 11, the 17th summit of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) started in Yerevan, where the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and his spouse Anna Hakobyan took part. At the opening of the summit, Pashinyan once again made a provocative speech, denouncing Azerbaijan for its refusal to engage in dialogue with the separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh.

What does Pashinyan hope for and what should be anticipated in Armenia from his populist, but logically incorrect statement?

Anastasia Lavrina, Assistant to the President of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), shared her opinion with Eurasia Diary. She thinks that only few take seriously the statements of Pashinyan, and it is completely his fault.

“The current Prime Minister of Armenia came to power with the help of people from the street who supported him with a hope to brighter future for the country. However, during his months in tenure, Pashinyan managed to further aggravate the already difficult economic and political situation in the country, destabilize foreign policy and stagnate the negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Currently, Armenia is struggling through a difficult period, and Pashinyan’s position is very precarious. He can only hope for the mass of people who still trust him. While understanding his position in the current situation, the Prime Minister of Armenia tries to delay negotiations on Karabakh, but without realizing it, leads the country to a stalemate,” Anastasia Lavrina said.

During the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly as well as at the opening of the 17th summit of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), Pashinyan stated that Azerbaijan refuses to hold dialogue with the Nagorno-Karabakh separatist. He said that "rejection of dialogue and the renewed attempts to use force against it endanger the physical existence of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh."

Answering the question of Eurasia Diary about the statements with accusations against Azerbaijan, Anastasia Lavrina noted that these actions expose Armenian PM as an unserious person and a politician.

"Does Pashinyan himself understand what he is talking about?

Let's start with the fact that the Summit was held under the theme: “Living together in solidarity, sharing humanistic values and respect for diversity: a source of peace and prosperity for the French-speaking world”. What kind of humanistic values is Prime Minister talking about while the country that he leads is keeping under the occupation of 20% of the territory of the neighboring state, Azerbaijan? For almost 30 years, people have not been able to return back to their homelands. At the same time, the armed forces of Armenia constantly violate the cease-fire on the contact line.

Azerbaijanis were completely forcibly evicted from Armenia itself and from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Today, Armenia continues its attempt to settle Karabakh with refugees from Syria, which is in no way consistent with international law. So what people in Karabakh Pashinyan is talking about?”, Anastasia Lavrina concluded.

Lanita Ganbarova