WORLD COUNTRIES CASH IN ON GENOCIDE ISSUE DRIVEN BY DOMESTIC INTERESTS
10:24 * 20.04.15
Political and public figure Ashot Manucharyan believes that the
Armenian Cause is on the international agenda now, but the world
powers are making it an instrument for resolving their own problems.
“Of course, we can see stronger humanistic manifestations, but I mean
ordinary people, not leaders of states,” Mr Manucharyan said.
Speaking of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia
scheduled for April 24, he said that as Armenia’s strategic partner
Russia has committed a blunder which is almost as gross as its blunder
in Ukraine.
“Russia has decided to send a delegation to Turkey to attend the
commemoration of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24. Otherwise,
Russian-Turkish relations would worsen. But allies are not supposed
to be used by an enemy. On the other hand, it is an ineffective step
for Russia because the events marking the Battle of Gallipoli are an
attempt to turn the issue of the Armenian Genocide into an instrument
for dealing with geopolitical problems,” Mr Manucharyan said.
Manucharyan said he sees that the Armenian authorities did all their
best to raise the issue of the Gallipoli campaign in an effort to
demonstrate that cashes in on the Genocide issue as a tool.
“The problem now is whether we will manage – in the weeks to come –
to have the Gallipoli [battle anniversary] canceled and condemned it as
an event as a tool aimed to prevent the public recognition of Genocide.
Asked what steps need to be taken to achieve that, the politician said
he thinks that such a campaign requires active efforts by political
parties and non-governmental organizations.
“They must be committed to having the Gallipoli [celebrations]
neutralized. They must call upon their first abroad to prevent the
Genocide issue from being cashed in on as a tool through Gallipoli,”
he added.
Manucharyan said he thinks that in case the United States manages
to reject Turkey’s efforts to attend the Gallipoli celebrations and
chooses instead to join the Genocide centennial commemoration in
Yerevan, that will make the matters more complicated for Turkey.