The Armenian soldiers who fell in the fierce battles over Nagorno-Karabakh in April were the heaviest loss of 2016, politicians said today, summing up the past year.
“The four-day war in April was a kind of litmus test in terms of both domestic and foreign policies. It revealed who our strategic allies are and who provides aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan,” a deputy leader of the Free Democrats party, Angela Khachatryan, said.
In her words, the hostage standoff, which followed the petrol police regiment’s armed occupation in summer, was yet another sign of the increasing tension in the country.
Speaking of achievements, Edgar Arakelyan of the Rule of Law party said he is blessed and honored to see that two Armenian republics are entering into the new year after heavy tests. As for the losses, the politician cited the increasing emigration rate noting that it adds to the number losses suffered in April.
Summing up achievements and losses, political figure Azat Arshakyan singled out Armenia’s new cabinet. Initial expectations about Armenia’s Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan vanished after he joined the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). So many people joining the ruling party was “like seeing a dentist to have your tooth removed.”
“I hoped Karen Karapetyan would not see the dentist,” Mr Arshakyan said.
Artak Davtyan summed up the passing year in terms of foreign and domestic policy. According to him, it is a rather difficult year.
“This year has been full of external challenges, but I agree that ‘that which does not kill us makes us stronger.’”
With respect to the premier’s membership in the RPA, he said:
“But did they think the government could be formed without the RPA? The government and premier are supposed to do what the RPA stated as the RPA is backing it in the form of coalition. The RPA membership of the premier and ministers implies consistent steps,” he said.
Mr Davtyan highlights tougher political control of the army.
“A civilian appointed as minister was a message and a specific step in the context of lessons drawn from the April war – what is the course of Armenia’s progress.”