RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN ON ‘TURKISH THEATRE’ AND ‘ARMENIAN CHESS’

Panorama.am
21/04/2010

Washington meetings have ensured a new stage for the development of the
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process to save the Armenian-Turkish
diplomacy, Richard Giragosian, the director of the Armenian Center
for National and International Studies (ACNIS) told reporters today.

He said there is lack of information after the meeting, adding this
could be agreed between the sides and everything may be kept secret
by April 24.

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest demand on hand-over of Aghdam
and Fizouli regions reminds R. Giragosian of a theatre, while Armenia
is playing chess, he says. "There are winners in chess, while theatre
is merely played: either well or badly.

And we may be the winners in this game of chess," Giragosian explained.

According to him, Turkey tries to present Erdogan’s statement on
hand-over of the regions as a compromise.

"Instead of demanding all the regions, we demand only two of them. Of
course, this is not a real compromise," R. Giragosian said and
signified the null reactions of the world powers to have followed
Erdogan’s statement.

"This means Turkey didn’t manage to convince any of the world powers
to accept the offer. Turkey knows itself, it will get nothing from
Armenia," the analyst highlighted.