Oligarchs and corruption are an even bigger threat for Armenia's national security than Turkey and Azerbaijan combined, Director of the Regional Studies Center Richard Giragosian said during debates in the Caucasus Center on Thursday.
Hence, he doubts that the key source of Armenia's problems is its foreign political choice.
Giragosian regards Armenia's move to join the Eurasian Economic Union as a step backward but he does not think that Armenia should give up on its relations with the European Union. He said that Armenia might strengthen the ties by opening border and establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey.
Giragosian believes that despite its mistakes, like voting against Ukraine's territorial integrity in the UN Security Council or agreeing to make flights to Crimea using the planes of a Chechen air company, Armenia has not yet lost its strategically important status in the region, which could be seen during the recent visit of the German Foreign Minister to Yerevan.