Former President and Prime Minister Armen Sarkissian stated in a March 2026 interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles that Armenia missed a crucial opportunity for peace and development in 1996-1997. He envisioned Armenia as an "open model," akin to Luxembourg, serving as a global hub for Armenian national and economic interests, including accumulating wealth, fostering education, and talent. Sarkissian believed Armenia could have secured international investment and oil and gas assets by participating in a peace deal during that period, when it held a position of strength following its victory in the first war and with Azerbaijan led by a pragmatic Heydar Aliyev. His plans were personally impacted by a cancer diagnosis in 1997, leading to his retirement.