Political analysts explain Pashinyan's softer rhetoric on Nagorno-Karabakh

Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the Armenian opposition, who had spoken for the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh, has changed his position, when becoming a candidate for the country's Premiership, the political analysts have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that April 30, Nikol Pashinyan said on that the conflict [around Nagorno-Karabakh] should be settled in the atmosphere of peace, but Azerbaijan's aggressive rhetoric was an obstacle.

As noted by Styopa Safaryan, a political analyst, Nikol Pashinyan has expressed readiness to make concessions in the Karabakh issue, provided that Azerbaijan changes its policy and gives up its territorial claims to Armenia.

Mr Safaryan has added that the final position of the new Armenian authorities on this issue will be formulated after the election. He is sure that with the new legitimate authorities, Armenia, which has undergone democratic changes, will speak out in negotiations Azerbaijan from its stronger position.

In the opinion of Ruben Megrabyan, a political analyst, the Karabakh settlement will be one of the main foreign policy issues in Pashinyan's programme.

Akop Badalyan, a political observer, has drawn attention to the fact that Pashinyan is still aiming to consolidate the outcomes of the "velvet revolution"; therefore, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is not his top priority.