A significant power disparity has emerged between Armenia and Azerbaijan, raising serious questions about Yerevan’s capacity to sustain the current regional equilibrium over the long term, a former head of state has cautioned.
In a recent public statement, the country’s first president highlighted that while the strategic aim of maintaining the status quo—pending eventual international recognition for Nagorno-Karabakh—may be theoretically sound, its practical feasibility is now in doubt. The core challenge lies in whether the nation possesses the economic strength and resilience to endure potential blockades and isolation for decades.
A decade ago, the two neighboring states were relatively balanced in terms of human, economic, and military resources. Today, however, that balance has shifted dramatically, with the gap continuing to widen.
The former leader defined national defeat not merely as a military outcome, but as the failure to alert the public to hard truths and to unify the country’s forces against looming threats. He emphasized a longstanding commitment to speaking honestly with the people, rejecting demagoguery and false promises regardless of political cost.
Reflecting on his role during the national movement that led to independence and the liberation of Artsakh, he reaffirmed his dedication to these principles, underscoring that integrity, not popularity, has always guided his public conduct.
