Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia alliance and candidate for prime minister, said a “small Artsakh” would be created in Armenia where displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh could preserve their culture.
Speaking during a meeting with Artsakh Armenians, Karapetyan said the immediate priority would be creating conditions for them to live dignified lives in Armenia, while diplomatic efforts would simultaneously continue to achieve the safe return of Artsakh Armenians, according to Sputnik Armenia.
Karapetyan also stated that he intends to secure the return of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan as quickly as possible.
“My friends are there, and I have no right not to make this issue the main priority of our government,” he said.
Karapetyan assured participants that the problems facing Artsakh Armenians would remain at the center of attention.
Addressing the issue of the Armenian diaspora, Karapetyan described it as one of the most painful topics for him, according to Panorama.am .
“I cannot say that once we come to power, the diaspora will immediately line up to return to Armenia from the very first day, until we create a prosperous state without poverty. Half of our country is either poor or on the poverty line,” Karapetyan stated.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Artak Beglaryan, former parliament speaker Ashot Ghulyan and representatives of non-governmental organizations also attended the meeting.
The official election campaign began on May 8 and will continue through June 5. On May 25, it became known that the “Alliance” Progressive Centrist Party, listed as number 13 on the ballot, had submitted a request to withdraw from the race.
