ArmInfo.American political scientist Suren Sargsyan commented on the possible appointment of a member of the Armenian parliament from the ruling "My Step" faction Lilit Makunts as the RA Ambassador to the United States. Thus, the expert, referring to the appointment of Makunts as ambassador, called for a sober assessment of the current situation.
"The Armenian ambassadors in Washington were originally professional diplomats. In this direction, our personnel policy has always been brilliant. "The high bar" so to speak - Shugaryan, Kirakosyan, Margaryan, Hovhannisyan and Nersesyan are competent diplomats who perfectly represent the modern American reality and brilliantly fulfill the tasks assigned to them, "Sargsyan noted on his Facebook page, recalling that there was one political appointment, which is also often practiced in international relations. According to the expert, the appointment of a political heavyweight to the post of ambassador underlines the importance of relations with this state and readiness to develop them. "And if we take into account the fact that Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, a year before his appointment as ambassador, established rather close ties with then Vice President Joe Biden, the picture becomes more complex. The message of the Armenian side was correctly received by Washington. Tigran Sargsyan was received by President Barack Obama about two weeks after arriving in Washington, although protocol usually requires months, "the political scientist added.
At the same time, he expressed bewilderment why, in a short time after the revolution in Armenia, Ambassador Hovhannisyan was recalled from the United States and Nersesyan was appointed in his place. Calling it illogical to appoint Hovhannisyan as Deputy Foreign Minister, and Nersesyan as US Ambassador, if the new government wanted to demonstrate the departure of the former, and the arrival of new ones with the concept of "new Armenia".
According to the Americanist, there is another problem, namely, the last three Armenian ambassadors have been in Washington for no more than 2.5 years. He added that if in the case of Tigran Sargsyan this was understandable, since he was appointed head of an international organization, then the shocking changes of Hovhannesyan and Nersesyan could leave a frivolous impression in the United States. Sargsyan believes that Nersisyan is working quite efficiently and at a good pace, despite the often inadequate instructions coming from Yerevan.
Almost everyone is against the appointment and in the Foreign Ministry, and this is the second prerequisite for failure. Also, many negative signals come from communities, they consider this power to be traitors. This is the third prerequisite for the inevitability of failure. Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Washington is a heavyweight, he is in Washington for already 10 years. The matter needs to be seriously balanced. And Makunts is not a counterweight, while Nersisyan is a fellow student of the Azerbaijani. Knows him well and resists. I can continue this list>, - the expert summed up. Earlier, information about the imminent appointment of Lilit Makunts as the Ambassador of Armenia to the United States was disseminated in the media. The night before, Makunts in an interview with one of the Armenian media confirmed that the issue of her possible appointment as ambassador to Washington is being discussed.