Political analysts note Pashinyan's tension with Karabakh authorities

At a sitting in Stepanakert, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has unequivocally presented his policy of resolving the Karabakh conflict, speaking in favour of Nagorno-Karabakh's participation in the negotiations. Against this background, the Karabakh leaders, the protégés of the former Armenian authorities, are unfriendly towards Pashinyan, said the political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

On March 12, in Stepanakert, Nikol Pashinyan held a joint sitting of the Security Councils of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan stressed that Armenia will remain "the guarantor of the security of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)" and will continue participating in the negotiation process, insisting on bringing Karabakh leaders to it. According to Pashinyan, until Nagorno-Karabakh becomes a party to the talks, it is impossible to achieve progress in the settlement: the current negotiation format is essentially including all the interested parties, except one – the residents of Karabakh.

By his speech in Stepanakert, Nikol Pashinyan confirmed his earlier statements and actually presented the announced settlement policy, believes Ayk Khanumyan, the leader of the Karabakh oppositional "National Revival" Party and a Nagorno-Karabakh's MP.

"These statements are not part of the rhetoric; this is a clear policy [...] Pashinyan is the only Armenian leader, who doesn't speak about any territorial concessions" Mr Khanumyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, noting "some tension" in the relations of Karabakh leadership with the Armenian Premier. "Bako Sahakyan's entourage is trying to strike Pashinyan in one way or another, to reduce people's trust in him and support the actions of the former Armenian authorities. They are not able to voice out any distrust to Pashinyan, especially since they have no reason for this; therefore, they'll resort to petty intrigues," the politician has concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 14, 2019 at 05:50 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.