Today at a "Defacto Club" press conference political analyst Igor Mouradyan commented that, "In the near future France will no longer be a Minsk Group Co-chair. It will give up that post to the European Union. The analyst didn't give any specifics regarding the claim but added that such an outcome would have negative consequences for Armenia. However, Mr. Mouradyan noted that Armenia will presently hold the same significance for the United States as it does for Russia, namely as a bulwark against Turkey, given that Armenia doesn't possess any other geo-strategic importance. As to what the new Obama presidency will mean for the region in general, Mr. Mouradyan stated, "U.S. policy in the region will not be modified." There will be a change in political style with the Obama Administration that will be coupled with a continued strengthening of an American presence in the Black Sea basin, somehting that is an issue of national security for the United States. When asked by "Hetq" whether Turkey would be successful in establishing the Caucasus Platform, Mr. Mouradyan said, "They will not be able to pull it off." He added that Turkey and Azerbaijan would also not be successful in gaining admittance into the EU but that Georgia and Armenia, as Christian nations, would eventually become members.