Armenia gained ‘nothing but problems’: Robert Kocharyan criticizes Washington accord

Second Armenian President Robert Kocharyan strongly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over the Washington declaration signed on August 8, arguing that Armenia gained “nothing but problems” while the United States and Azerbaijan secured tangible benefits.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Kocharyan stressed that the U.S. secured “control over a future corridor, de facto oversight of the Armenian-Iranian border and an opportunity for Donald Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination.” Meanwhile, Azerbaijan obtained “a transit corridor through Armenian territory, the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and the repeal of Section 907”.

“What did Armenia get? Absolutely nothing, only problems,” Kocharyan stated.

He further argued that Pashinyan’s main motivation was personal publicity rather than national interests.

“Pashinyan gained a photo with President Trump and a piece of paper with no legal value, one that serves merely to deceive Armenia once again,” he stated.

“Essentially, Pashinyan was just a decoration at the White House. There was a table, a chair, a picture and Pashinyan,” Kocharyan remarked.

The former president suggested that Armenia should have pushed for a longer route, four to five times the proposed 42 km, extending toward Yeraskh, which would have placed full operational responsibility on the U.S.

“Trump likes grand projects,” Kocharyan said. “If properly presented, the U.S. would have supported a larger initiative, forcing [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev to delay or reject it. Then Aliyev, not Pashinyan, would have been the decorative figure.”

“I also have a photo with President Clinton in the White House bearing his signature. But unlike Pashinyan, I didn’t give up anything for it,” he added.