Armenian analyst: Meeting with US Congress members was just ‘photo op’ for Makunts
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan on Thursday weighed in on a meeting of the Armenian parliamentary delegation with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congress members held on Wednesday.
He deplored the fact that the Armenian delegation included only pro-government MPs and Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Lilit Makunts, who also represents the ruling Civil Contract party.
"The U.S. congressmen put aside their internal political wrangling and, showing respect for statehood, the two-party system and democracy, together received a foreign parliamentary delegation, all three members of which are from the same party (including the ambassador),” Sargsyan wrote on Facebook.
“The U.S. expressed its willingness to host three participants. In fact, an Armenian opposition deputy was left out of the list of participants for the ambassador to participate in the meeting. This was just an excellent "photo opportunity" for the ambassador (as evidenced by the Menendez-related story).
“If she had given up her seat to any of the opposition MPs, it would have been welcomed by the Congress leadership as a commitment to a multiparty system and democracy. Also, the ambassador could have negotiated for 4 participants or could have sat in the second row.
“Why can't she be a little diplomatic, far-sighted and perceptive?” the analyst said.