Armen Sarkissian, in an interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles, reflected on a missed opportunity for Armenia to establish itself as a global hub for Armenian national and economic interests, akin to Luxembourg. He envisioned Armenia owning international assets, such as oil and gas fields, and becoming an educational and talent center. Sarkissian argued that the ideal period for achieving this vision was between 1996 and 1997, when Armenia had secured victory in its first war and Azerbaijan had a pragmatic leader, Heydar Aliyev. He believed that capitalizing on international interest in Caspian oil and gas during this period of Armenian strength would have facilitated peace and attracted investment. Sarkissian's own plans were impacted by his illness in 1997, which led to his retirement.