Commentary by Emil Sanamyan
NEW YORK CITY – The United Nations’ General Assembly became the first major international forum for Nikol Pashinyan, where he spoke on behalf of Armenia. Armenia’s prime minister also used the trip to New York to meet with Armenian Americans.
In his September 25 address, Pashinyan gave a quick update on Armenia’s developments last spring and his intentions going forward. The protests that resulted in his election as prime minister “succeeded against all expectations” and his government most recently won a strong victory in Yerevan municipal elections. Pashinyan would now push for early general election, since as he pointed out, the current parliament “does not represent our people’s will.” He also mentioned his plans to introduce more elements of direct democracy in Armenia, such as regular local and national referenda on various issues.
While highlighting the revolutionary changes he was seeking to achieve in Armenia, Pashinyan again promised continuity in foreign policy and efforts to develop relations with all partners. He put the resolution of the Karabakh conflict in the context of genocide prevention. “Karabakh must not be a part of Azerbaijan, unless one wants to trigger a new genocide of Armenian people,” he stressed.
Pashinyan spoke in English and concluded in French, announcing the upcoming Francophonie summit in Yerevan next month.
Speaking of last spring’s events in Armenia as one of the positive developments worldwide, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres praised “the youth of Armenia [who] showed the power of their voice for progressing democracy by the peaceful political changes in the country.”
The changes in Armenia appear to have failed to capture the imagination of the president of the United States, however. According to initial reports, Pashinyan sought to secure a meeting with Donald Trump, who addressed the UN on the same day, but the meeting did not take place.
Diaspora asked to shift focus
Pashinyan arrived in New York on Sunday evening after casting a ballot in the Yerevan city council elections in the morning. Immediately after arrival, the prime minister went to meet with representatives of Armenian American organizations from around the United States. The event held at the Yale Club of New York went on for over two hours and focused on Armenian political developments and Armenia-Diaspora relations.
Pashinyan sought to play down his own, clearly central role in Armenian politics today and argued that the “Armenian revolution does not have a [Vladimir] Lenin or a Fidel [Castro],” adding that “our Lenin’s and Fidel’s are the citizens of Armenia.” However, as in most of his speeches, Pashinyan spoke of his plans and his hopes for the Armenian people, with virtually no mention of any of his allies.
Apparently mindful of the recent halt in foreign investments in Armenia, Pashinyan promised a corruption-free, investor-friendly Armenia, arguing that fresh parliamentary elections would address any ongoing concerns about political stability. At the same time, it remained unclear how the parliamentary majority would be convinced to disband and forfeit any remaining political influence they still have.
Pashinyan thanked Armenian Americans for their contributions to Armenia, highlighting the success of Tumo centers. He asked for continued shift in emphasis towards long-term development projects. “The Armenian national idea has to focus on Armenian statehood,” the prime minister said, noting that repatriation to Armenia must become a key element of this focus.
In subsequent days, Pashinyan also held a number of bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, spoke at the UN-organized Nelson Mandela peace summit and attended the Armenia! exhibit at New York’s metropolitan museum of art.
