Very Very well put Berge.

For nearly two decade, the US State Department acted in the most counter=intuitive and self-destructive manner in its foreign policy toward Armenia. The routine goes something like this: Turkey blockades Armenia for 17 years, the US State Department puts additional pressure on Armenia to capitulate. The International Association of Genocide Scholars repeatedly calls on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide, the US State Department fires its ambassador to Armenia for uttering the word genocide. The International Monetary Fund evaluated Armenia’s loses due to Turkey’s hostile border closure at the tune of $750 million per year; the US State Department lowers US “aid” to Armenia each year to its current meager $40 million. According to the warped logic of the US State Department foreign policy, if country A (Turkey) closes its borders with country B ( Armenia), Protocols are needed to apply pressure on Armenia to accept open borders. If the US State Department does not succeed in convincing Turkey to stop its billions of trade with Iran; then the US State Department flexes its muscles to arm-twist Armenia to stop its economic survival-dependent trade with Iran; instead of sympathizing with the plight of Armenians leaving the country to seek economic survival elsewhere. Armenian-Americans advise the US State Department on the importance of integrating Armenia in the regional economies to ensure stability in the region; the US State Department responds by isolating Armenia and funding the Baku-Tibilis-Ceyhan pipeline by-passing Armenia. Armenian-Americans advise the US State Department not to fund the construction of Kars-Tblisi railroad; instead use the existing Kars-Gumri-Tblisi railroad; the US State Department ignores Armenia. Armenian-Americans advise the US State Department not to lift section 907 regarding US weapons to Azerbaijan; the US State Department does the opposite, bolstering Azerbaijan war threats in the region. Armenia is grateful to the Russian Federation for its investments in Armenia; and is appreciative for the protection of Armenia’s borders with Turkey. Armenia is most appreciative to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its steadfast support throughout the years and for the energy projects in Armenia (gas, oil, hydro-power stations, railroad and highway, trade imports/exports). What has the US State Department done to influence Armenia towards the West? (besides Genocide, TARC and Protocols?) The answer is clear: Hetch. - Berge Jololian

Dear John Hughes, once again great article.

Dear Concerned ArmeniaNow Reader, Your points about France-Turkey resolution are well-made. Still: French recognition is not the same as U.S. recognition, and therein lies the difference (whether justified or not)in the importance of a U.S. recognition. Further, this is not the "Turkish line", but the reality, so long as the U.S. needs Turkey as it's war-friendly ally. Thanks for reading.

Dear John Hughes, Stop repeating the Turkish line on the reasons to not pass the Genocide Resolution and thus exaggerate their talking points. The Turkish economy is very much dependent upon the IMF and the World Bank and does not make decisions based upon desultory or reactionary emotion. For example trade has increased between France and Turkey since the former passed a similar resolution in its lower house; why is this not mentioned?