At a discussion today in the Armenian national Parliament regarding the 2021 draft budget, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said he still cannot understand why Baku decided to recruit foreign mercenaries in its war against Artsakh, arguing that such combatants pose a security risk to the entire region, Baku included.

Mnatsakanyan made the remark at a joint sitting of the Standing Committees on Financial-Credit, Budgetary Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

When asked if Armenia would follow France’s lead and officially recognize the Grey Wolves and other similar groups as terrorist, Mnatsakanyan responded that the issue is urgent in the sense that today Artsakh and Armenia are fighting against three de facto enemies - Turkey, Azerbaijan and international terrorist militants.

"The emergence of terrorist militants in this region is more than a challenge in a broader context. I do not know what they were thinking in Baku when they brought in foreign militants in this war. t is a danger for the region and outside the region. It reveals new realities," Mnatsakanyan said.

Responding to Chairman of the NA Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Arkady Khachatryan, who asked if the government had skimped on financing the Foreign Ministry to the point that its diplomatic mission had been hampered, Mnatsakanyan said money isn’t the only factor to be considered.

 "I would not underestimate Armenia's geopolitical position in international relations, nor would I exaggerate it. Everyone clearly understands how the world order is formed. As for the resources, to be honest, our discussions were very clear. Money, on its own, isn’t enough if the system is not subject to appropriate reforms.”  

Mnatsakanyan agreed that in the past the budgetary financing of the Armenian Foreign Ministry had been meager when compared to countries comparable to Armenia.

Mnatsakanyan said the current government is focusing on the most efficient expenditure of all budgetary resources.