We Create Paper First, Then Content: Pashinyan

The benchmark you mentioned is currently at a very low level, because from the first day of your leadership, you have managed the country based on geopolitical developments and regional conditions with inadequate military-political assessments and incorrect prioritization.

This was stated by Seyran Ohanyan, the leader of the 'Armenia' parliamentary group, during a Q&A session in the National Assembly, addressing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to him, as a result, Armenia got embroiled in a war, suffered defeat, and now Artsakh is completely depopulated.

"My question is as follows: What fundamental documents reaffirm Armenia's priorities, what actions are being taken to develop and implement our country's important strategic documents, especially in the field of security?" Ohanyan said.

In response, Nikol Pashinyan mentioned, "You spoke about shifting blame onto others. In reality, even if there is discourse that can be interpreted this way, the purpose of that discourse is by no means to attribute blame to anyone. That might be an adjacent effect, but the primary goal is to address an entirely different and much more important question: to understand what happened, why it happened, what the reasons are, and to what extent we could influence it, with what tools, in what circumstances, and what we can achieve as a result. Ultimately, we need to understand where the truth lies, and where it is not entirely true."

Regarding strategic documents, he added that such strategic decisions are made in the Security Council and other places. But he emphasized the place and platform for fine-tuning our policies in a changing world. "Due to circumstances, that place has become the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and in my opinion, the issues you mentioned are expressed in the annual report on the progress of the government's agenda" he said.

Seyran Ohanyan noted the importance of making correct decisions in a changing world and forming the right strategic documents. "Provisions related to security and Artsakh mentioned in the government program have not been implemented and are not being implemented. The country is not managed on its feet and with a handshake. That document does not correspond to reality."

Nikol Pashinyan replied, "We create paper first, then content. That is why papers often do not correspond to reality. You mentioned the Security Council, where serious strategic issues are discussed and strategic decisions are recorded. There are institutions working on this, we are working on the national security strategy, but excuse me, the content of that strategy must be formed, and the mid-level officials of new institutions should put that on paper, not the other way around. This is happening very intensively and not publicly."