RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: ARMENIA PLAYS CHESS, WHEREAS TURKEY MAKES A SHOW
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
21.04.2010 17:20

"Armenia plays chess, whereas Turkey makes a show," Director of
the Armenian Center for National and International Studies Richard
Giragosian told a press conference today.

"In chess there is a winner, and we may win. In theatre there is no
winner. It’s either good entertainment or bad. And we are playing
chess well," he said.

According to Giragosian, Armenia has had two strategic victories in
the Armenian-Turkish process. "One is relations between Azerbaijan
and Turkey. The concept of one nation two states is dead. The second
strategic victory is regarding Nagorno Karabakh, where even the
Americans and Russians tell Turkey "no." Karabakh is no more directly
linked to the Armenian-Turkish relations," he sated.

"The best option for Armenia is to demonstrate political dexterity
and ratify the protocols now, which would increase the pressures on
Turkey. To me it’s good politics," Richard Giragosian said.

"Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting in Washington was the first step, not
the last one. We can expect Sargsyan-Erdogan second meeting in late
May or early June in Moscow," Richard Giragosian said and explained
the meeting could become possible due to Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev’s upcoming visit to Turkey in May.

He is convinced that Russia continues to play an active role in
Armenia-Turkey process. "The interesting thing is, however, that both
Russia and the US agree that the Nagorno-Karabakh can no longer be
a precondition," the analyst said.

U.S. President Barack Obama is unlikely to utter the word ‘genocide’
on April 24, ACNIS Director said.

"I do not need the U.S President or the Congress to tell me what I
know without them. I do not expect the Parliament of Sweden or of any
other country to recognize the Genocide I know about. It is much more
important that Turkey admit the Genocide," Giragosian stated.