International observers are frozen in anticipation of who will be appointed Armenia’s representative at the negotiations on the normalization of relations with Turkey.

In this connection, an unexpected appearance of Jirayr Libaridyan, former foreign policy adviser to the Armenian President (1991-97), attracted attention.

An American citizen, Libaridyan left Armenia after the public rejected Levon Ter-Petrosian’s proposal to move toward a step-by-step settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

In subsequent years, Libaridyan repeatedly criticized Robert Kocharyan’s and Serzh Sarkisyan’s policing of the Karabakh issue. Not surprisingly, he earned the title of “traitor” in Armenia.

After Armenia’s defeat in the Second Karabakh War, he issued a scathing article accusing the Armenian society of self-deception and inability to look at the world soberly.

The Libaridyan’s position was that Yerevan should recognize Azerbaijan’s rights to Karabakh and seek security guarantees for Armenians rather than annexation of Karabakh to Armenia.

Also, he is in favor of reconciliation with Turkey and not making recognition of the “Armenian genocide” and payment of compensation a condition.

For this reason, Libaridyan’s appearance in Yerevan and his meetings with members of Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling team caused quite a stir.

Talking to journalists in Yerevan, he repeated his position which only strengthened suspicions that his visit to Armenia after 25 years was not at all accidental.

By the way, in November Libaridyan was to give an interview to Turan agency in Boston, however, at the last moment he changed his mind, without giving any reasons.

He may have received an offer from Yerevan to take part in the normalization of relations with Turkey, so he did not want to show himself earlier.

In any case, the involvement of Libaridyan in this process would be a very positive step to certainly contribute to the normalization of the situation, both in relations with Turkey and with Azerbaijan.

Despite his respectable age, 76, Libaridyan is very active as an expert and political scientist.

Originally from Ottoman Turkey, Libaridyan negotiated with his Azerbaijani counterpart Vafa Guluzade on the Karabakh settlement. After his retirement, he visited Baku and met with Heydar Aliyev.

Source: Turan News Agency