Nikol Pashinyan: The post-war situation is not without problems and  is fraught with many internal and external challenges

ArmInfo. The post-war situation in Armenia is not without problems and is fraught with many challenges. This idea was expressed in an interview with the First TV Channel by the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

The prime minister stressed that in fact the country is in a phase  where it is necessary to overcome the consequences of the 44-day war.  He noted with regret that it is impossible to overcome such consequences  as the loss of a large number of people who cannot be returned, and this is a  very tragic sad fact. And of course, the country has faced numerous internal and  external challenges today, and therefore our first task is to ensure security and  stability both in Armenia itself and around it. It cannot be said that this issue  has been resolved 100%, but the country is moving in this direction with "confident steps".

He noted that, as before, the security of Armenia is under the  umbrella of the CSTO security system. At the same time, he stressed  that earlier the public had not entirely correct ideas about the  obligations of the CSTO system in relation to Armenia, not knowing  that the obligations of the CSTO extend exclusively within the  internationally recognized borders of Armenia. Outside these  boundaries, the CSTO has no obligations. Pashinyan, meanwhile,  admitted that the dangers that directly affected the borders of  Armenia were the focus of this organization. As for the general  regional security system, he said, in this regard, it is necessary to  go in the direction of reforming the army, structural  transformations, strategic transformations, including in terms of  weapons. We need to assess the new regional situation and our role in  terms of regional relations. It is also important to adjust the  agenda of our partners from the point of view of their relationship  in the current regional situation.  He did not deny that the  situation in Syunik has radically changed, and this cannot but worry.   He expressed confidence that Armenia has no unsolvable problems in  this region, which does not mean that there are no problems at all.  In Syunik, according to the prime minister, a certain security system  is working, although it is clear that the environment in this region  has changed after the war and there is a certain tension, which, in  his opinion, will be weakened over time. For this, the government  intends to implement large-scale socio-economic programs in the  region, especially since it is simply necessary to form the most  favorable situation around Artsakh and Syunik, on which the  government is constantly working on a daily basis.

As for the opening of communications that can change the general  situation in the region, in Pashinyan's opinion, a balanced approach  to this issue can lead to long-term and sustainable peace. And  besides, to mutually beneficial cooperation and growth of economic  potential and economic profile of Armenia. But this thesis does not  at all mean that there are no challenges - risks that need to be  managed. This is a matter of choosing a strategy, but communications,  in any case, are the arteries that connect us to the region and vice  versa, making this connection a rather important factor. We must   formulate this agenda and understand the dangers and identify the  methods that will neutralize these challenges. In this regard, the  question of who is the most interested party in the issue of   unblocking communications, it can be stated that all participants  are interested in this process, without exception - Russia, Georgia,  Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. It's another matter that the  interests of the parties sometimes coincide, and in some cases they  do not. And in this work it is necessary to find opportunities to  smooth out those issues that do not coincide and emphasize those   that, on the contrary, coincide.

As a positive fact in this context, Pashinyan cited the example of  starting a discussion on the possibility of opening the Abkhaz  section of the railway, discussing the possibility of using a direct  rail link connecting the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea. This  increases the interest in the topic, which, again, according to the   prime minister, does not at all speak about the absence of   challenges, just as it does not speak about the availability of   opportunities, a competent approach to which is of strategic   importance for Armenia.