168 ZHAM: OBAMA’S USE OF ‘GENOCIDE’ MATTERS LITTLE IF AT ALL

11:00 * 23.04.15

In comments to the paper, the president of an Armenian tink-tank
shared his comments on the country’s foreign policies in regards to
achieving a final recognition of the Genocide by the United States.

Manvel Sargsyan, who heads the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies, particularly pointed out to foreign policy
trends which he said are the major drawbacks preventing the US
president from saying “genocide” in his annual April 24 address to
the Armenian people.

“Armenia’s political leadership – if they are really interested in
hearing President Obama use “genocide” – does not conduct appropriate
work with the United States. What matters is political evaluations
that would help see the questions raised and the necessary steps to
be undertaken, and to evaluate whether or not the failure to use the
term results from wrong policies. They are questions the Armenian
authorities won’t get an answer to as they do not carry out the
necessary work with the United States, instead raising problem.

“On the public level, people wait – like football fans – to see
‘whether or not [Obama] will say it.’ This question has become an
element inthe international politics, whereas the Armenian side does
not have its official understanding and does not conduct the policies
that would yield the desired results,” he is quoted as saying.

From: Baghdasarian