The positions of powers coincide in the main, but, as before, Turkey is once again trying to force the U.S. to put up with the “inevitable”. Namely, Ankara threatens that by recognizing the Armenian Genocide Washington would deliver almost a “fatal blow” both to the US-Turkish relations and to the Armenian-Turkish Protocols. And what is most interesting, every year the United States swallows the bait, what is not true, for example, about Russia and France. Let us restate that both countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide at the parliamentary level, but nothing has changed in their relations with Turkey. It should also be noted that this behavior of Ankara is not a novelty. However, for some reason every year the U.S. takes the same “test”, and fails with honor. It is appropriate to recall here the latest statement of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said that the commission on investigating the historical past of Armenia and Turkey is in the process of formation. Hardly is it possible that the U.S. Secretary of State does not know that the items of the Protocols stipulating establishment of an intergovernmental commission will be carried out only after ratification. Moreover, in the Protocols there is no mention of creating a specifically historical commission. The same view was expressed by Spokesman of the RA Foreign Ministry Tigran Balayan. “Rapprochement Protocols, signed in Zurich, stipulate for formation of Armenia-Turkey historical committee upon both parliaments’ ratification of the documents. Not until Protocols are ratified will there be taken steps envisaging normalization of ties and opening of Armenia-Turkey border,” Balayan stressed.

Hardly is it possible that Washington has forgotten the unsuccessful effort of establishing Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC). A similar destiny awaits this historical commission. Establishment of this or any other Armenian-Turkish commission can be a success only if Turkey fulfills several conditions set not by the Armenian side, but by the parties interested in the process. The conditions are not so many: Turkey should distance itself from the Karabakh conflict, recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire (not identifying it with modern Turkey) and, finally, tolerate religious minorities of the country. By and large, these are also the requirements for EU entry, if Turkey really wants to enter the European family.

Nevertheless, judging by the statements of the Heads of States, both leaders are resolute in the rapid settlement of the Armenian-Turkish conflict. And it is unlikely that anything will change on April 24, no matter Barack Obama pronounces the word “genocide” or not. Very few naïve people have remained in the world, and in Armenia and Turkey all the more. Just initiators of the Armenian-Turkish project overlooked the fact that ages-old conflicts are unlikely to be settled in a couple of years. And, most likely, the greatest fear of Turkey is her anxiety that she might be made to pay the bills of the Ottoman Empire. And though the United States, EU, Russia and other countries claim that it is one thing to recognize the crimes of the past, and another thing to build a new relationship, Turkey bewares. And she always will... at least until Armenia gives up struggle for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which, in principle, is impossible.