Opinion: Pashinyan`s senseless "European overtures" are extremely  dangerous for Armenia - Armenian voter understands this

ArmInfo. The Armenian voter has already realized that the one- sided and senseless "European overtures" of current Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are extremely useless and even dangerous for Armenia. This opinion was expressed by former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

The diplomat recalled that last year, Pashinyan requested that one of  the meetings of the European Political Community be held in Yerevan,  deliberately timing it to coincide with the decisive parliamentary  elections in Armenia a month before. "The calculation was obvious: to  use the presence of European leaders to strengthen their domestic  political position. However, what was already a short-sighted  decision has now become a political liability. One thing is clear:  this meeting will work against Pashinyan more than it helps him.  Armenian voters have already realized that one-sided and meaningless  'European overtures' in Pashinyan's style are extremely useless and  even dangerous for Armenia," he noted.

Oskanyan noted that the regional situation has sharply worsened  today, as a war is raging in neighboring Iran, tensions have risen,  and Armenia has found itself in an increasingly vulnerable position.  According to him, the European Community, although not directly  involved in the war, clearly has a negative attitude toward Iran.  "The official EU's negative attitude toward Russia is also obvious.  Moreover, the recent meeting between Pashinyan and Putin in Moscow  added fuel to the fire when, without observing diplomatic nuances,  Pashinyan was effectively faced with a choice: Europe or the Eurasian  Union? Under these circumstances, holding a high-level meeting of the  European political community ceases to be a political advantage and  becomes a risk. Armenia needs a cautious, thoughtful foreign policy,  not pre-election demonstrations," the former Armenian Foreign  Minister asserts.

At the same time, he is convinced that if Pashinyan had the  opportunity today, he would try to cancel the meeting scheduled in  Yerevan for May 4-5. "But he can't. And now what was intended as  personal political gain risks turning into further proof of how the  thirst for power can harm national interests. Especially since  economic dependence on Russia, which has increased tenfold during  Pashinyan's tenure, will hurt every Armenian if relations become  strained," the diplomat concluded.