Washington's coinciding political and moral interests 'turned situation to Armenia's advantage' – opinion

The US Senate's move to pass Resolution 150 recognizing the Armenian Genocide – and thereby eventually rejecting Turkey's denial – reflected the coincidence between the administration's political and moral interests, offering certain benefits to Armenia, according to Vigen Hovsepyan, a doctor in political science.

″What happened was long expected to take place. After the Turkish invasion of Syria, the atrocities against the Kurds and the purchase of the S-400 anti-air missiles, the United States could not have possibly defended Turkey's interests,″ he told Tert.am on Friday.

Addressing the resolution's role and significance, the political scientist agreed that the measure – likewise the previous resolution passed by the House of Representatives – stemmed solely from the functions of the body which had effectuated it. ″The resolution in this case refers only to, and has impact upon, the activities of the upper house of the US Congress. The resolutions bans the Senate from taking any action that would potentially lead to Genocide denial,″ Hovsepyan said, emphasizing the flexibility of the measure.

Meantime he pointed out to wide-ranging leverages offered to the Armenian National Commitee of America (ANCA). ″I do not want to elaborate on the potentiality of that resolution now. I will only say that the resolutions adopted present a powerful weapon to struggle for recognition, and exert increasing pressures upon Turkey. Politics is the art of the possible; hence it is important indeed to make the right use of all the existing opportunities,″ the expert said.

He also highlighted the historical importance of the event, appreciating the ANCA's lobbying as a landmark move that paved way to turning the deteriorating US-Turkey relations to Armenia's advantage (notwithstanding the numerous resources available in the US arsenal as effective anti-Turkish measures).