Artak Zakaryan: Countries led by weak leaders pay with territory and lives

Artak Zakaryan, a senior member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), has drawn sharp contrasts between effective state leadership and what he describes as Armenia’s failures under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Commenting on the recently unveiled peace plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza, Zakaryan said in a social media post that the proposal envisions the demilitarization of Gaza, the release of hostages, humanitarian oversight by the UN and temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee under international supervision. The plan has reportedly been welcomed by both Israel and several Arab and Islamic states, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey.

Zakaryan highlighted that Israel’s ability to secure its core national demands, including hostage returns, Hamas disarmament and security guarantees, demonstrates how strong leadership can protect a nation’s interests even amid longstanding conflicts.

“Countries led by leaders like Pashinyan pay with territory, lives, dignity, sovereignty and a dependent future. Just look at Armenia in recent years, look at Ukraine and soon, perhaps, Moldova," he wrote.

Zakaryan stressed that leaders who prioritize national interests not only win the respect of their allies but also compel adversaries to take them seriously.