REAL TEST OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY TO BEGIN IN 2010: RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN
Tert.am
14:19 ~U 03.12.09
At a press conference today, Richard Giragosian, Director of the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), a
leading independent strategic research center in Yerevan, said that
the real test for Armenian diplomacy would begin after the new year.
"The real test of Armenian-Turkish Protocols is at what price? At
what price Armenia is required for Turkey to open the border and
extend diplomatic relations?" asked the analyst.
According to Giragosian, even if Turkey opens the border and
establishes diplomatic relations, and even if "Turkey adopts the
Protocols, Turkey should not be rewarded or even complimented. Because
this is a basic minimum demand of normal countries."
In the ACNIS Director’s opinion, Armenia needs to remain strong,
"though the real pressure and expectations are on Turkey, not Armenia."
Giragosian also referred to the December 7 meeting between U.S.
President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in Washington D.C. – an important day not only because of this visit,
but also because it is the deadline for Turkey’s parliamentary
committee to make a decision on the Armenia-Turkey Protocols.
"The foreign affairs committee of the Turkish parliament has a
deadline of Monday. It seems clear, according to Turkish officials,
that the committee will approve the Protocols. But the real delay is
in the full Turkish parliament, where they seem to be waiting until
February or March, in order to connect the issue to the April 24th
commemoration [of the Armenian Genocide]."