Armenia's "overdue" ambassador: "Hraparak"

The daily "Hraparak" writes: On August 2, 2021, Lilit Makunts was appointed Armenia's Ambassador to the United States by presidential decree for a four-year term. Consequently, the ambassador's term of office expired on August 2, 2025. The President has not adopted any individual legal act on the extension of the ambassador's term of office, and in fact, the Armenian Ambassador to Washington has not been authorized to act on behalf of the Republic of Armenia since August 3.

Of course, there may be justifications that according to the “Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the ambassador continues his activities until the arrival of a new ambassador or that other regulations apply in the practice of the receiving country, etc. However, from the point of view of Armenian domestic law, Lilit Makunts has been considered an expired ambassador since August 3 and, according to domestic law, cannot act on behalf of Armenia due to the expiration of her term of office.

Let us also remind you that the next ambassador's approval has already been received from the US: Minister of Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan will depart for the US. However, it is not clear why the departure is delayed.

It should also be noted that within the government, Mkrtchyan's appointment was not unanimously assessed. They believe that he failed in the ambassadorial position and should not have been appointed ambassador to such an important country.