"GOOD RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, THAN THE HURT FEELINGS OF THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA"

Today
itics/66891.html
April 28 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani General Council in Los Angeles Elin Suleymanov speaks out
about the possible future of the region countries, and the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

What is your point of view on Barack Obama’s speech on the 24th
of April?

The strategic interests of the U.S. traditionally are more important
than the promises made during the election campaign, as well as
the pressure coming from the narrow part of the electorate. Today,
good relations with Turkey are more important for the White House,
than the hurt feelings of the Armenian Diaspora.

The reality is that the direct responsibility devolves upon the man
chosen for the U.S. presidency is far superior to the responsibilities
of political candidates and representatives of other governments. It
is interesting, that such a difference between reality and the campaign
promises of politicians the American public is confronted in virtually
every election season for a variety of issues, most of which do not
relate to the Armenian issues.

How did Armenians of the United States react to all that, in particular
the Armenians in California?

For the second year the U.S. president uses the term against the
Armenian events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. If last year such a
creative, an approach made some impression because of its novelty,
this time it was clear that the terminology of the Armenian language
is used as a way to once again avoid the word "genocide." Naturally,
this caused a serious negative reaction from the Armenian diaspora. It
is of course being felt in California, where numerous Armenian Diaspora
members are.

Frankly, it is unfortunate that the tragic events of World War I in
Anatolia, during which suffered numerous representatives of various
nations, including Turks, Azeris, Kurds, Armenians and Georgians,
were the subject of political bargaining in some countries. Indeed,
the history should be studied by historians, because one vote does
not change the facts of history. Such approach hardly reflects any
respect for the memory of those who lost their lives, regardless of
their ethnicity.

How, in your opinion, will the US-Armenian, and US-Turkish relations
go on from here?

All this fuss about the relations between Armenia, Turkey and the
United States is useless. One thing is clear: until we deal with the
regional problems at hand, other issues will not be touched upon.

Symbolic steps are a bad substitution for the real progress. The
main problem in the region still remains – the illegal occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. Therefore, its in interests of
Turkey, Armenia and the U.S. to have some real progress and settlement
in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

However, the key to a peaceful solution to the conflict remains
Armenia’s rejection of non-constructive policy of extremism, as
well as a more objective approach and commitment on the part of the
OSCE Minsk Group. President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly spoke out
of Azerbaijan’s realistic position on this issue, which is based on
strategic vision of the future of our region. Today, Azerbaijan is
ready to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace in the region.

The question is,if Armenia is ready for it, and the representatives
of the international community as well…