Armenia is entering a “very difficult and risky period”, former Armenian president and Hayastan alliance prime ministerial candidate Robert Kocharyan said in an interview with Nouvelles d’Arménie.

“Today the divisions are very deep. In this region, we have traditionally had two countries with which we have had problems — Turkey and Azerbaijan — and two countries with which we have maintained friendly and allied relations — Russia and Iran. We have a serious contractual security framework with Russia, a Russian military base is stationed in Armenia, and long-standing friendly relations have been formed with Iran,” he said, according to Auroranews.am.

Kocharyan noted that Armenia’s problems with Turkey and Azerbaijan remain unresolved.

“Yes, they are trying to move toward peace, and we also support peace. But peace is not established with the snap of a finger. It requires time, relations and a legal-contractual basis. Yet today we are simultaneously seriously undermining relations with both Russia and Iran. We are too small a country to allow ourselves such a luxury,” he said.

According to Kocharyan, Armenia should preserve and strengthen relations with Russia and Iran while normalizing ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan on that basis.

“The weaker you are, the weaker your negotiating positions become. What is being done today is essentially weakening Armenia’s position in a difficult negotiation process. We do not believe relations with Russia hinder the improvement of relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan,” he said.

Asked whether Armenia could simultaneously secure support from both the West and Russia, Kocharyan said Armenia had traditionally maintained strong ties with Europe and especially France.

“However, one must understand that France has no real security leverage in this region. It can make statements and nothing more,” he said, adding that Russia’s role in the region is growing and that, apart from Turkey, no other power is capable of counterbalancing Russian economic and military influence.

Commenting on the U.S.-backed TRIPP project, Kocharyan questioned whether it was realistic.

“I do not think this is a good or bad project — I simply think it will not work. This is not a project for Armenia; it is a project for Turkey and Azerbaijan aimed at connecting them with Central Asia. We will receive almost nothing from it except small revenues from a 40-50 kilometer transit section,” he said.

Kocharyan said Armenia should instead focus on industrial development and rebuilding its high-tech and advanced manufacturing sectors.

“We had a powerful engineering school, which we are gradually losing. Every day we are losing the significance we once had in the Soviet Union. Our human potential is a success story that can be restored,” he said.

According to Kocharyan, attracting foreign investment requires business security, national stability and attractive economic policies.

“If you create such a favorable environment, investments will definitely come. I have experienced this personally,” he said.

The election campaign launched on May 8 will continue until June 5. June 6 will be a day of silence, while elections will be held on June 7.