ACCORDING TO RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN, U.S, RUSSIA AND EUROPE STAND NEAR ARMENIA AND WAIT FOR TURKEY’S STEP

Noyan Tapan
Feb 24, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The issue of Armenian Genocide has
become more important on the international arena today connected with
Turkey’s position in the Armenia-Turkey conciliation process. Richard
Giragosian, the head of the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies, made such an observation at a February 24 press
conference. In his words, after the signing of the protocols Turkey
"plays games" by leading into temptation Armenia and the international
community. All countries, as R. Giragosian stressed, have claims and
expectations from Turkey: today the U.S., Russia and Europe stand
near Armenia and wait for Turkey’s step.

"If Turkey misses this opportunity (of establishing relations with
Armenia: NT) it should pay a price. It is a different issue what
price," he said. And if the Turks open the border and send a diplomat
to Armenia, according to R. Giragosian, it should be considered a
normal, minimum step, for which Turkey should not be awarded.

Expert Manvel Sargsian, in his turn, reminded the statements of
Turkey’s high-ranking officials that they move towards improvement
of relations with Armenians for the purpose of solving the Nagorno
Karabakh problem. "However the U.S. made the issue of Genocide a
problem for Turkey," he said. According to M. Sargsian, now the Turks
understand that from the very start they should not have put their
claims on the table. He mentioned that he has an impression that the
U.S. wants to break Turkey’s claims.