YEREVAN. – The revolution is a shock also for the diplomatic system because for 20 years the diplomatic work of Armenia was aimed at justifying the rigged elections and presence of political prisoners.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday noted the aforesaid at the National Assembly (NA), and during the debates on the 2018 activity report of the government. He stated this reflecting on the criticism by Arman Babajanyan, a member of the opposition “Bright Armenia” Faction at the NA, according to whom the former inertia and passivity are still prevailing among Armenia’s foreign policy makers and implementers.

“The system should be kept away from shocks so that they adapt to the [new] situation,” Pashinyan said, in particular. “We have to assess the work of our ambassadors in an addressed manner.”

As for Armenian-American relations, PM Pashinyan stated as follows, in particular: “The US has for a very long time acted as a fierce defender of democracy throughout the world. [But] I want to ask us all: How did the US react to the unprecedented democratic changes that took place [last year] in the Republic of Armenia, [and] which were democratic in their ‘tissue,’ axis, substance? I’ve told their representatives as well that they have practically given a zero reaction. Why?

“When we [Armenia] are saying that the important [thing] for us is the sovereignty of our country, we don’t mean that we have to replace dependence on point A with point B.”

And as for the criticism that Armenia has failed at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Nikol Pashinyan said, as follows, above all: “I believe that we have succeeded at the CSTO because our [Armenia] voice there is heard , and the respect toward us has grown.”