Political scientist: Erdogan was a baker (video)
Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan does not think that Pope Francis’s speech made at a Holy Mass in the Vatican dedicated to the memory of the Ottoman-era Genocide of Armenians will make a significant breakthrough in the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. However, the political scientist says it was a large-scale event of great importance. “If the speech were made by a president of some country, it would not be as remarkable as that of the pope’s,” Mr Iskandaryan said adding, “The religious leader also spoke about the work of [Armenian monk] St Gregory of Narek which is a great honour for us, Armenians.” The pontiff’s speech was also important in the sense that after it Armenia was viewed as one of the centers of Christianity. “The fact that Pope Francis called the killings of 1.5 million Armenians 'the first genocide of 20th century” is an important step in the process of recognition and condemnation of the crime,” he added. Mr Iskandaryan says Turkey's reaction was predictable for him. “Everything connected with the centennial of the Armenian Genocide angers Turkey and the statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top officials are simply ridiculous. Erdogan was a baker, while Pope Francis has a master's degree in philosophy and theology, he is a prominent religious leader and a great politician, so these two men cannot be compared,” he said. In conclusion, Mr Iskandaryan added that Pope’s speech will long be discussed in different circles after the events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
