La croix: The Armenian leadership refuses the national symbol and has done nothing to commemorate the loss of Artsakh

The Armenian government organized nothing to commemorate the loss of Artsakh, La croix wrote.

Not a word from Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on this sad anniversary. Not even a visit to the military cemetery at Yerablur. Among the refugees from Artsakh, the vast majority despise Pashinyan. In their eyes, his term, which began in 2018, is synonymous with a series of defeats and the loss of their lands. The painting that adorns the prime minister’s office in Yerevan was recently changed. Mount Ararat (5,137 meters), a national symbol now located on the other side of the Turkish border since the early 20th century, was replaced by a view of Mount Aragats (4,095 meters), which is within Armenian territory. “The highest mountain in Armenia,” Pashinyan commented. Gone are the claims of the past.

Armenia has 29,743 square kilometers, not one more. And Ararat, the nearly sacred emblem of the Armenians, is not part of it. For Pashinyan, it’s clear: a peace treaty must be signed. It may be a loser’s agreement, but it’s a lasting peace that Yerevan hopes to finalize by November on the sidelines of COP29 on climate, organized in Baku. Pashinyan can count on a majority that supports him in Parliament. An increasing portion of Armenians criticize his openness towards Baku. It’s not just the décor in the prime minister’s office that’s changing. This 2024-2025 school year, the subject of “Armenian history” has been replaced by “the history of Armenia,” sparking debates among teachers. On the cover page, the map of the region no longer shows Artsakh.