Statements by Armenian ruling coalition and RA President Serzh Sargsyan on suspension of the Protocols’ ratification, signed in Zurich last October gave rise to a new stir in Turkey. Particularly, some consider it as a “tricky step” and bargaining chip on U.S. President Barack Obama, for the latter to say the word ‘genocide’ in his annual April 24 speech-Remembrance Day of Armenian Genocide victims.

Ankara remained cool over the Yerevan decision and is waiting for Washington’s April address to Armenians, Turkish Milliyet daily reports. “Few hours are left till Obama’s speech, but there are no developments in Armenia-Turkey relations. Several years ago senator Obama said that Armenian Genocide was perpetrated. What will he say now? In his last year’s address Obama did not use the word ‘genocide’, replacing it by Armenian word &‘Mets Yeghern’ winning Armenians’ hearts. However, this time the situation is different. On Obama administration’s incentive, the &‘Armenia-Turkey relations’ normalization course’ was hurt dramatically,” Milliyet informs.

L.A.