YEREVAN. – During Monday’s budget discussions at Armenia’s National Assembly, FM Edward Nalbandian unconsciously made a noteworthy confession, Zhoghovurd daily reports.  

“To justify his trips to Southeast Asia and Africa, he said it is incorrect to call those countries exotic because [the Democratic Republic of the] Congo is several times larger than Armenia. In addition, as per him, Congo is the largest country, after [the Russian Federation] RF, in diamond production.  

That is to say, Nalbandian indirectly confessed that he visited Congo because, against the backdrop of a ‘multi-vector, proactive foreign policy,’ there is a large diamond production there. 

Armenia’s serving authorities show an interest toward a country and send an official delegation there when they notice new business branches for themselves. And the regime has long been interest in Congo’s diamond production. So, the state and business interests have coincided,” Zhoghovurd writes.