“A former ambassador has the right to express his standpoint that is not usually tied with the state’s foreign policy,” President of the Analytical Center of Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan said when commenting on former Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sukru Elekdag’s statement that “after Armenia became independent the foreign line and coordination of Diaspora’s activities is exercised by Yerevan and directed by the Armenian ambassador in Washington.” According to Grigoryan, the former ambassador has formed a hypertrophied opinion on the role of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora in the Armenian Genocide issue. “It’s impossible to reach the Armenian Genocide recognition by lobbying only. The states which recognized the Genocide did it proceeding from their own interests but not due to the pressure exerted by Diaspora or the RA government,” Grigoryan underscored.
“Nevertheless, no one can deprive the Armenian Diaspora of the right to struggle for the Genocide recognition. Diaspora is the result of the Genocide what cannot be said about the Polish or Ukrainian Diasporas which formed as a consequence of political changes. If Turkey wants to join the EU it should reconsider its attitude towards Armenia and Armenians living in Turkey. As to Armenia’s foreign policy, official Yerevan has numerously reiterated readiness to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions. I would also like to stress that the RA government is not engaged in lobbying,” the Armenian expert said.
