Richard Kirakosyan: ‘The existence of issues between Turkey and Israel can be advantageous for Armenia’

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: The existence of issues between Turkey and Israel can be advantageous for Armenia, as it creates a number of favorable opportunities for the advancement of the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, according to Richard Kirakosyan, political scientist, head of the Armenian center for national and international studies.

He said today in an interview with Armenpress that the Israeli lobby organizations to the US and the Israeli government will tend to use the issue of the Armenian Genocide as a weapon against Turkey. He said this situation can promote the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the US.

As to Israel’s role in our region, Richard Kirakosyan mentioned about the improvement of the Israeli and Azerbaijani relations. ‘Israel says Turkey betrayed not only Israel, but also Azerbaijan, that is why Israel uses that opportunity to regulate the issues of armament sale with Azerbaijan,’ the political scientist said.

He says there is an evident change in Turkey’s strategy toward Israel. ‘There are serious issues, which are reflected with the fact that the relations of Turkey and the West have become worse,’ Richard Kirakosyan said.

He added that for years Turkey had been the only ally of Israel in Near East; however now Turkey tends to deepen its relations with the Islamic world and endeavors to become a neo-Ottoman leader of the region by taking advantage of the anti-Israeli moods.

‘It is too difficult to forecast on this strategy; however I think the Turkish-Israeli allied relations were unnatural and, actually, were negative for Armenia and the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Though the current situation makes Turkey more aggressive in the region, it promotes the strategic interests of Armenia,’ Richard Kirakosyan said.