IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION BY LOBBYING ONLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.02.2007 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "A former ambassador has the right to express
his standpoint that is not usually tied with the state’s foreign
policy," President of the Analytical Center of Globalization
and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan said when commenting on
former Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sukru Elekdag’s statement that
"after Armenia became independent the foreign line and coordination
of Diaspora’s activities is exercised by Yerevan and directed by
the Armenian ambassador in Washington." According to Grigoryan, the
former ambassador has formed a hypertrophied opinion on the role of
Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora in the Armenian Genocide issue. "It’s
impossible to reach the Armenian Genocide recognition by lobbying only.

The states which recognized the Genocide did it proceeding from their
own interests but not due to the pressure exerted by Diaspora or the
RA government," Grigoryan underscored.

"Nevertheless, no one can deprive the Armenian Diaspora of the right to
struggle for the Genocide recognition. Diaspora is the result of the
Genocide what cannot be said about the Polish or Ukrainian Diasporas
which formed as a consequence of political changes. If Turkey wants
to join the EU it should reconsider its attitude towards Armenia and
Armenians living in Turkey. As to Armenia’s foreign policy, official
Yerevan has numerously reiterated readiness to normalize relations
with Turkey without preconditions. I would also like to stress that the
RA government is not engaged in lobbying," the Armenian expert said.