February 1, 2007 - 18:00 AMT
Armenian Genocide recognition factor can become a tool to pressure for Armenia
The resolution of recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. Congress does not mean anything and does not change anything itself. It does not have power of law, said director of Caucasian Media Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan during an interview to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. In his words, the resolution is just a call, which makes initiate some changes. "The Armenian Genocide recognition factor can become a tool to exert pressure for Armenia. Armenia is a tiny nation and it cannot influence on Turkey but it can do that through the U.S.A.," he stressed.

The Armenian political scientist also said that Armenian policy on Turkey should be "not from down to up, as it is now, but from up to down." "We must be concerned with the events in the neighboring country, welcome all positive changes and wish it not only as Armenians, but also as Europeans, as members of the Council of Europe. We must understand and try to help. Let's just imagine what a difficult way Turkey must cover on the way of democracy, freedom of speech and human rights protection. For Armenia it is important not Turkey's membership to the European Union, but the process of it. The same concerns and the borders: not the opening of borders, but talks over it. Once I have said, that we should swing the carrot in the form of EU membership in front of Turkey's nose and now I repeat it," stressed the Armenian political scientist.

  • Full text of the interview