Armenia narrowed policy of concessions over Karabakh in 2017 - analyst

2017 marked a period of summing up the previous year’s politico-military situation in Armenia by evaluating and capitalizing the political developments, according Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan, a political analyst.

“It has really been a stable year devoid of every shock. And that’s really gratifying compared to 2016, which saw serious developments on the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline,” he said at a news conference, citing the April 2016 heavy escalations as a major challenge.

In his words, the heavy fighting caused Armenia to revise its approaches to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), pushing it to adopt a tougher diplomatic stance and narrow its policy of concessions.

“That [policy] was first voiced at the Armenia-Diaspora conference as Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian – and later also President Serzh Sargsyan (in his speech at the UN General Assembly) – said Armenia is ready to continue the negotiation process. But their statements on concessions were not worded in the language  of the Madrid Principles (on preserving the land corridor); they were made on a level which does not pose any threat to Artsakh’s security,” Melik Shahnazaryan noted.

But he ruled out major domestic policy developments for 2018.  “This year’s parliamentary election made clear which political force is going to form the new cabinet [after transition to a parliamentary system],” he said, hinting the high chances of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. “This is why I don’t expect any political process at all. The processes will be more technical in nature but will certainly have serious political implications.”