OBAMA NOT TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE"
Leyla Tagiyeva

news.az
Feb 5 2010
Azerbaijan

Rasim Agayev News.Az interviews Azerbaijani political scientist
Rasim Agayev.

The USA’s director of national intelligence, Dennis Blair, told an
annual Senate committee hearing on Tuesday that there is a possibility
of resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. What
can you say about this?

This high-profile statement from the director of US National
Intelligence can be seen as a message to Armenia and Azerbaijan over
the unsettled Karabakh conflict that has resulted in the occupation
of one-fifth of our lands by Armenians. The message is definitely
prompted by the impatience of the United States at the lack of progress
in resolution of this conflict. Now we should ask ourselves to whom
they are addressing this message.

I think the message is mostly addressed to Armenia. Probably,
the United States has realized that the scope for compromise on a
peaceful Karabakh settlement has been exhausted in Azerbaijan. At the
same time, Armenia occupies the land of their neighbouring state,
whose territorial integrity is recognized by the whole world, and
starts to annoy the United States with its non-constructive position
because it will not comply with US plans for consolidation in the
South Caucasus region. In addition, the first anniversary of Barack
Obama’s inauguration as president has passed, but none of his election
promises has been met. This also affects the nature of statements from
different US officials that send different messages to the countries
of geopolitical interest to Washington.

The date 24 April when Armenians worldwide hope that Barack Obama
will describe the 1915 killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey as
"genocide" is nearing. Do you think Obama will do this?

It is quite obvious that Barack Obama will not recognize the events in
Ottoman Turkey as "genocide", like the previous US president. Turkey
has long been used to living under the threat of recognition of the
mythical "Armenian genocide" by the US president. This time Turkey
will also bring all its mechanisms into play to lobby in the United
States prior to 24 April, which will produce the necessary effect.

What conclusions should Armenia draw if Barack Obama again does not
pronounce the word "genocide"?

Armenia will have to correct its position both on resolution of the
Karabakh conflict and on further steps to normalize Turkish-Armenian
relations. They have no other way, while the economic situation in
the country is poor.