On 26 February, Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian started holding negotiations with all stakeholders in the country in order to overcome the confrontation between the country’s armed forces and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (Caucasus Watch reported).

During the course of the day, Sarkissian met with the Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan; the parliamentary head of the ruling My Step faction Lilit Makunts, the head of the opposition Bright Armenia party Edmon Marukyan, the secretary of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party Arman Abovyan; members of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement Vazgen Manukyan, Artur Vanetsyan and Vahram Baghdasaryan; as well as with the Chief of the General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan. At the meeting with Mirzoyan, the parties discussed  the role of the president and parliament in defusing the current internal political situation. At the meeting with the representatives of the country’s parliamentary forces, views and  issues relating to de-escalating the tension and the ways for a peaceful resolution of the situation were discussed.

The leader of the Fatherland (Hayrenik) political party Artur Vanetsyan spoke to the reporters on what was discussed during Sarkissian’s meeting with the Homeland Salvation Movement representatives. He said that the Movement representatives presented to Sarkissian their viewpoints and asked him, as guarantor of the Constitution, on the side lines of his authorities, to settle the extraordinary situation created in the country. He stressed that the two sides registered that only state interest is above everything and that all must be guided with advancing state interest only. 

As to the situation regarding the resignation document of chief of general staff of Armenian armed forces, Vanetsyan said: “The president listened to us and said that he will make an objective decision on the side lines of his authorities. The president did not convey to us any concrete decision.” Vanetsyan also said that during the meeting it was noted that the statement of the general staff was not a military coup attempt.

Meanwhile, other international actors continued expressing their opinions and concerns in regard to the situation in the country. The French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for dialogue between the supporters of Pashinyan and the opposition for the sake of protecting democracy. “France advocates dialogue based on the legitimacy of the prime minister and the president… for ensuring a calm situation in the country which is living in a difficult period. Armenia’s democracy must resist,” he stressed.

The European Union urged all political actors in Armenia to avoid further escalation of tensions. “The EU is following developments in Armenia very closely. We ask all actors for calm and to avoid any rhetoric or actions that could lead to further escalation,” stated the spokesperson of the EU’s foreign policy Peter Stano. He also stressed that differences should be resolved peacefully, respecting the principles of parliamentary democracy. The bloc also reminded that the military should remain neutral and under civilian control under the Armenian constitution. “Maintaining the democratic and constitutional order is the only way Armenia can effectively tackle the challenges it is confronted with,” the statement pointed out.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) co-rapporteurs for monitoring in Armenia Boriana Aberg and Kimmo Kiljunen said that PACE was extremely concerned about the recent events in Armenia. According to them, the statement made yesterday by the general staff of the armed forces, which called for the resignation of the democratically elected government, was unacceptable. They called on all political forces and statesmen to fully respect the democratic principles and the Constitution of Armenia and to take all necessary steps to immediately de-escalate the current situation.