CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 37

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) political views regarding the Abkhaz and South Ossetian problems, as well as inforeign policy. In January 2019, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, told the American CNBC that the Russian “occupation of 20% of the Georgian territory” is the greatest challenge for Georgia. 74 In its turn, Russia is still greatly concerned with Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, yet the latter does not intend to make a shift in its foreign policy course because of the fear of public backlash. In its foreign policy strategy for 2019-2022 (adopted in March 2019), two of the five main priorities noted are security and territorial integrity, as well as EU and NATO integration. 75 After the change in government in Armenia in May 2018 as a result of a few weeks of peaceful protests and the former opposition leader, Nikol Pashinyan, was elected PM, it was still uncertain whether Yerevan would change its foreign policy vector and pursue integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Before coming to power, the current Armenian PM was an ardent critic of enhancing relations with Russia and participating in Russia-led organizations, especially EAEU. Hence, there was a notion that the Armenian-Russian relationship might change dramatically. However, both during the protests and after taking office, Pashinyan has always ensured his Russian counterparts that he is going to stay committed to Armenia’s foreign policy priorities and does not intend to leave EAEU, CSTO, or CIS. Some experts are of the opinion that Pashinyan’s stance is determined by the unresolved conflict of Nagorno Karabakh and the closed border with Turkey. In this sense, cooperation with Russia provides more security alternatives for Armenia rather than the West, in addition to Armenia’s dependency on Russia as its major trading partner and investor in the Armenian economy. 7677 Simultaneously,                                                              74 Holly Elyatt, “Russia is Still Occupying 20% of Our Country, Georgia's Prime Minister Says”, CNBC, January 22, 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/22/russia-is-still- occupying-20percent-of-our-country-georgias-leader-says.html. 75 “Georgian Government Adopts Foreign Policy Strategy for 2019-2022”,The Caucasus Watch, April 2, 2019, http://caucasuswatch.de/news/1458.html?fbclid=IwAR1xwuliWFIns24vPfcYtNWNRhYh BQOBkfD3oslY54r1EoHIaSXyIFJNXi4. 76 Alexander Markarov, “Armenia’s Foreign Policy Priorities. Are There Any Major Changes Following the Spring 2018 Political Transformation?”,Caucasus Analytical Digest, no. 104 (2018): 3-7, https://www.laender-analysen.de/cad/pdf/ CaucasusAnalyticalDigest104.pdf. 77 Amanda Paul, &Dennis Sammut, “Armenia’s ‘Velvet Revolution’: Time is Pashinyan’s worst enemy”. European Policy Center, May 30, 2018, 37