Erevanets. See below selective translations from the posts of Caucasian Knot's bloggers. See more in the Russian version

Now, USA would no not recognize Genocide

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has published a statement: "Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Turkey and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland have made a joint statement.

According to the statement, Armenia and Turkey, under mediation of Switzerland, have done intensive work with the aim to normalize bilateral relations and further development of them in the spirit of mutual respect and good neighbourhood, thus, contributing to peace, stability and safety in the whole region.

Both parties have reached significant progress and mutual understanding in this issue. They have also reached an agreement concerning normalization of mutual relations within the framework acceptable for both parties. In this context, a roadmap was elaborated."

What is a "roadmap"? The press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has explained: "A roadmap is a diplomatic term that means a programme of pre-planned steps."

These governmental efforts have immediately received plenty of reactions from both advocates and opponents of the decisions. Among them, the stand of Richard Kirakosyan, Director of the Armenian Centre for Strategic and National Studies, looks rather objective. In his opinion: "By having promulgated such statement two days before April 24 – the Remembrance Day of Victims of Armenians' Genocide, Armenia, apparently, gives forces and approval to Turkish attempts to exert, in every possible way, pressure on US President Obama to urge him to bypass, in his speech on April 24, the promise he had given in his pre-election campaign to recognize the genocide."

"Moreover, having agreed to disseminate the statement, which is obviously consonant with the Turkish policy of non-recognition of the historical truth of Armenians' genocide, and with account of the fact that it was made public two days before April 24, the Armenian Government has demonstrated amazing short-sightedness and irresponsibility. This strategic mistake gives rise to doubts of common sense, sincerity and seriousness of Armenian leadership, especially on such painful point, when the issue of safety and settlement of the Karabakh conflict remains unsolved, and the future of democratic and economic reforms is under doubt."

Richard Kirakosyan has emphasized: "In a broader sense, this strategic mistake of Armenian leaders is something more than just an omission in foreign policy; and it indicates a really tragic and, most likely, irreversible step, by doing which the Government of Armenia not only sacrificed the dignity of the state, but also gave up responsibility, which it should bear for genocide survivors and their descendants. This reprehensible neglect of the historical heritage of Armenians' genocide was most specific for behaviour of Turkey; however, such irresponsible policy of Armenia deserves tough criticism. It is a really tragic start to annual memory actions of genocide victims."

Concerned about the statement as also expressed in Azerbaijan, since until now improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations was viewed by Turkey only as attached to settlement of the Karabakh conflict. However, the agreement, as reported by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says nothing about preconditions. In the context of Azerbaijani concern of such Turkey's behaviour, President and Prime Minister of Turkey decided to console their Azerbaijani friends.

As reported by Turkish newspaper "Hurriet", President of Turkey Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made statements on latest developments in Armenian-Turkish relations.

Leaders of Turkey called Azerbaijan not to worry about improvement of their diplomatic relations with Armenia.

President Gul said: "The whole process is for the benefit of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Should the initiated agreement be successfully adopted, it will do good to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Caucasus as a whole."

Abdullah Gul has also explained that the Armenian-Turkish agreement is so far just an initiative, and no final document has been signed yet. Under the legislation of Turkey, the parliament should approve the agreement.

In his turn, Prime Minister Erdogan has stated: "We shall not undertake any steps capable to do harm to our brothers – Azerbaijanis. Apart from the preliminary agreement, nothing has been signed yet."

Here, as it became clear with the help of Mr Erdogan, it is just a preliminary agreement, and the matter should not be taken seriously. It all looks very much like a very keen diplomatic move, thoroughly designed by Turkey, as a result of which the USA should get convinced that the issue of genocide recognition is no longer so sharply disturbing Armenia; and it is ready to make friends with Turkey without any preconditions. It all takes place at the background of setting up the Armenian-Turkish historical commission for studying the fact of Armenians' genocide, and, accordingly, there is no need now for Barrak Obama to make a ticklish step and pronounce the word "genocide". Under such successful Turkey's policy, probably, other US presidents will still less want to touch on this topic. Unless within the already fixed tradition to promise to recognize the genocide with the aim to win the votes of Armenian natives.

In fact, the long-term propaganda work of hundreds thousands of Armenians all over the world has been nullified by a stroke of a pen. Interestingly, what other surprises should we expect from our diplomats and leaders?