Discussions on Post-Revolutionary Developments in Armenia Held in the U.S.

Discussions on the post-revolutionary and post-electoral developments in Armenia were held at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C.

The speakers included former advisor to the Prime Minister of Armenia, Arsen Kharatyan, who is also the chief editor of “Aik Media” based in Georgia, and Emil Sanamyan, a faculty member at the University of Southern California's Department of Armenian Studies and a journalist.

The discussion focused on the developments that took place in Armenia over the past year and the internal and foreign policy adopted by the new authorities. The speakers emphasized that the Velvet Revolution in Armenia was unprecedented in its nature and in the absence of foreign interference.

The absence of foreign interference, particularly from Armenia's strategic ally Russia, is attributed by the speakers to various reasons. According to Arsen Kharatyan, Moscow had learned lessons from the Ukrainian and Georgian experiences, while Emil Sanamyan explains Russia's non-interference as a result of the lack of warm relations with either side, and also notes the absence of an external agenda from the movement led by Pashinyan.

The speakers highlighted the importance of U.S. involvement in post-revolutionary developments in Armenia, as well as in the further resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to Kharatyan, the current authorities in Armenia expect support from the United States in areas such as fighting corruption, reforming public administration, and developing democracy. He emphasized the necessity of deepening business cooperation in U.S.-Armenia relations, highlighting the importance of foreign investment flows into Armenia’s economy.