Turkey’s pressure will yield no results
France's move to adopt a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide is the beginning of condemning all genocides, according to Richard Giragosian, Director of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center.
"This is the beginning of a longer process against Turkey. The bill has triggered outrage in Turkey. While attempting to pressurize France, Turkey is further deepening the conflict," he said.
"As usual, Turkey is exaggerating the issue of the Armenian Genocide and making it a bigger problem between the European Union and Turkey on the one hand, and France and Turkey on the other. It also confirms that Turkey will be the next country to recognize the genocide," Mr. Giragosian told A1+.
The political scientist also dwelt on domestic political developments, specifically the strained relations between two coalitional forces -Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP).
"It is interesting that the PAP has not given a counterblow to the RPA. Another interesting thing is that we are at the threshold of parliamentary elections - the first one after the deadly clashes of March 1, 2008," he said.
The political scientist finds the cooperation between the PAP and Armenian National Congress interesting though unrealistic.
Regarding the country's economy, he pointed out to the existence of oligarchs who evade taxes and hinder competition, resulting in the increase of the poor.
"For example, the Mayor of Gyumri city is constructing a luxurious hotel, in the meanwhile, the city's residents struggle hard to eliminate the consequences of the 1988 earthquake," he stressed.
Giragosian says Armenia has a lot to do in the defense sphere.
"Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan should be given greater powers to clean the sphere," he concluded.
