YEREVAN. – Foreign policy is the continuation of domestic policy, and the issue for Armenia’s opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party is that the authorities become strong and able to be proactive and self-confident, ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s Political Affairs Bureau and Armenian Cause Office Chief Giro Manoyan stated during a discussion convened in the capital Yerevan, on Friday.       

Reflecting on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue Manoyan specifically said: “Nothing grand can be expected without resettling Artsakh [Karabakh]. In parallel with the Artsakh talks, activities toward [its] recognition must be carried out. Armenia should have recognized Karabakh in 1991 or 1992, but now we are in a process, so we cannot. However, this does not mean NGOs, and NKR [Nagorno-Karabakh Republic] itself, cannot take steps toward recognition. When the talks meet an impasse, Armenia must recognize NKR’s independence.”        

As per Giro Manoyan, the second important matter for Armenia is the Javakhk issue. “This is a national security matter not only for Javakhk Armenians, but for Armenia, too. Georgia is our primary road, but they have a weak link,” he argued.

Manoyan also reflected on the Armenian-Russian relations and said: “Our demeanor with Russia must be as equals, and not as a requester.”