US Vice President JD Vance is welcome to Armenia, but he would have done much better to go to Baku first and bring all our compatriots with him. This was stated during Monday’s protest outside the official residence of the Armenian Prime Minister by former Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) State Minister Artak Beglaryan.

Right now, a meeting between US Vice President JD Vance and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is taking place at the official residence of the Armenian premier.

“However, he [i.e. Vance] still has the opportunity to do one favor for the Armenian people and fulfill the promise of his president, Donald Trump, to not only return the Armenian captives [in Azerbaijan], but also to pursue the elimination of at least some of the persecution against the Armenian people. And we all know that the Armenian captives there are hostages in the hands of the dictator [Azerbaijani president Ilham] Aliyev.

‘Hostage’ means that they are being used or will be used for [by Azerbaijan] political bargaining. So, the US leadership has the opportunity, as a party interested in peace in the region and the restoration of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, to take one clear step that will bring real peace closer.

Of course, this will not reconcile our [two] peoples. This will not completely eliminate the consequences of the genocide committed against the [Armenian] people of Artsakh. However, this will be a very positive humanitarian step forward and will open the doors of new opportunities for addressing future problems and ensuring long-term peace.

We all know that all Armenians are being condemned and tortured there [in Azerbaijan], because everyone there represents us [Armenians]. And as long as there is one Armenian in an Azerbaijani prison, there can be no peace and reconciliation. So, we ask, urge, even somewhat demand from Vice President Vance that during his upcoming visit to Baku, he very clearly raise the issue of first and foremost the immediate release of all 19 Armenian hostages, taking practical steps to determine our unknown fates, and introducing practical mechanisms to ensure the return of the [Armenian] people of Artsakh," Beglaryan added.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will pay an official visit to Armenia on Monday and Tuesday.

After their talk, the Armenian PM and the US Vice President will make statements.