Armenian opposition leader discusses key issues with political scientists, experts

Panorama, Armenia
Jan 29 2021

Vazgen Manukyan, the joint candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for interim prime minister, discussed a number of key issues, including the domestic political situation, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue and regional geopolitical developments, at a meeting with a group of political scientists and experts in Yerevan on Thursday, the coalition said in a statement.

“The meeting addressed the post-war political crisis in Armenia. The experts expressed different views on how to handle it. According to some views, the strategy and moves of the political field should be based on a serious sociological research and analysis of the Armenian society. In this context, they touched upon the issue that social media are often used to create an unreliable picture of reality,” the movement said.

“They exchanged views on the change of government in Armenia in 2018, the root causes of the subsequent events, the problems of the government, state system, opposition, political parties, as well as the need to develop those systems. The necessity to form a national agenda in Armenia, to make the issues of national identity a priority and to unite the people around them was highlighted.

“Referring to the Artsakh issue, the participants emphasized the need to clarify and enhance Armenia’s position on the matter and the country’s efforts, expressing concern over the recent attempts to push the issue into the background,” the statement said.

The attendees of the meeting also called for development of a clear strategy in the light of Turley’s active efforts in the region. They discussed the issue of forming a clear agenda of relations with the United States and the prospects of cooperation with Russia and Armenia’s other allies.

"They attached importance to the issue of pursuing a foreign policy in line with geopolitical developments and being in a favorable position in case of possible regional realignments, which is of vital importance for Armenia and can be resolved only if the crisis and problems within the country are handled,” the statement said.