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ISRAEL'S AMBASSADOR ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES, SELLING ARMS TO AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
09:52, 13 November, 2014
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ambassador of Israel to the
Republic of Armenia Shmuel Meirom assures that no kinds of arms would
be sold to Azerbaijan, which would destabilize the region.
At the same time, the Ambassador underscored that today no country
has a problem to obtain arms on the global market. In an interview
to "Armenpress", the Ambassador reflected on the Armenian-Israeli
relations and why Israel qualifies the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide as a "political issue".
- Mr. Ambassador, first of all I would like to thank You for not
refusing to give us an interview. In the beginning of the interview,
let's speak about the Armenian-Israeli relations. How do You assess
them?
- As every time I am asked this question, I can say now again that
the relations between Israel and Armenia are good, even though their
full potential has not yet been realized. In other words, there are
projects and many areas of cooperation on the agenda, such as the
signing of a number of agreements, mutual high-level visits, and more.
- One can frequently hear Israeli statesmen calling the Armenian
Genocide a "political issue". Don't You think that the international
community and particularly Israel must the view the question mostly
from the moral, humane, and not the political standpoint?
- The subject of recognizing the Armenian Genocide has consistently
been raised in Israel every year. It is not a secret that we face two
matters: On the one hand, Israelis and Jews in general have a special
sensitivity to the tragedy that struck the Armenian People; on the
other hand the entire issue has regrettably political connotations
that touch upon the relations of both our countries with Turkey. We
have not forgotten the moral aspects.
- The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan officially
invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the
commemoration ceremony dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. How would You assess this step?
4. I believe that the step taken by Armenia's President was a
courageous and wise one. Relations between Armenia and Turkey are of
much importance to both countries and the thawing of ties would be
a welcome development for them both. I look forward to the day that
Turkey's border with Armenia will be open and that there will be a free
flow of people and goods between both countries. This would also enable
a discussion of more sensitive issues such as the Armenian Genocide.
- Is it possible that Israeli delegation will also participate in the
commemoration events of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?
- I believe that there will be an Israeli delegation to the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Memorial, although I cannot
at this time say who will head it.
- And the final question. Mr. Ambassador, Israel is among those
countries, which sell a vast amount of arms to Azerbaijan. Is there an
apprehension in Israel that those arms will be used against Armenia
and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and destabilize the situation in
the region?
In Israel there is a committee that strictly examines arms sales
to any country in the world, including Azerbaijan. The committee
strictlyensures that no kinds of arms would be sold that would
destabilize the region. We are aware of the great sensitivity that
exists in Armenia to the issue, and as a country which itself has a
conflict with some of its neighbors, Israel understands this. However,
we need to be clear: today no country has a problem to obtain arms on
the global market. If Israel were to totally refrain, another country
would sell arms anyway.
Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/783736/israels-ambassador-on-armenian-turkish-ties-selling-arms-to-azerbaijan-and-armenian-genocide.html
09:52, 13 November, 2014
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ambassador of Israel to the
Republic of Armenia Shmuel Meirom assures that no kinds of arms would
be sold to Azerbaijan, which would destabilize the region.
At the same time, the Ambassador underscored that today no country
has a problem to obtain arms on the global market. In an interview
to "Armenpress", the Ambassador reflected on the Armenian-Israeli
relations and why Israel qualifies the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide as a "political issue".
- Mr. Ambassador, first of all I would like to thank You for not
refusing to give us an interview. In the beginning of the interview,
let's speak about the Armenian-Israeli relations. How do You assess
them?
- As every time I am asked this question, I can say now again that
the relations between Israel and Armenia are good, even though their
full potential has not yet been realized. In other words, there are
projects and many areas of cooperation on the agenda, such as the
signing of a number of agreements, mutual high-level visits, and more.
- One can frequently hear Israeli statesmen calling the Armenian
Genocide a "political issue". Don't You think that the international
community and particularly Israel must the view the question mostly
from the moral, humane, and not the political standpoint?
- The subject of recognizing the Armenian Genocide has consistently
been raised in Israel every year. It is not a secret that we face two
matters: On the one hand, Israelis and Jews in general have a special
sensitivity to the tragedy that struck the Armenian People; on the
other hand the entire issue has regrettably political connotations
that touch upon the relations of both our countries with Turkey. We
have not forgotten the moral aspects.
- The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan officially
invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the
commemoration ceremony dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. How would You assess this step?
4. I believe that the step taken by Armenia's President was a
courageous and wise one. Relations between Armenia and Turkey are of
much importance to both countries and the thawing of ties would be
a welcome development for them both. I look forward to the day that
Turkey's border with Armenia will be open and that there will be a free
flow of people and goods between both countries. This would also enable
a discussion of more sensitive issues such as the Armenian Genocide.
- Is it possible that Israeli delegation will also participate in the
commemoration events of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?
- I believe that there will be an Israeli delegation to the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Memorial, although I cannot
at this time say who will head it.
- And the final question. Mr. Ambassador, Israel is among those
countries, which sell a vast amount of arms to Azerbaijan. Is there an
apprehension in Israel that those arms will be used against Armenia
and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and destabilize the situation in
the region?
In Israel there is a committee that strictly examines arms sales
to any country in the world, including Azerbaijan. The committee
strictlyensures that no kinds of arms would be sold that would
destabilize the region. We are aware of the great sensitivity that
exists in Armenia to the issue, and as a country which itself has a
conflict with some of its neighbors, Israel understands this. However,
we need to be clear: today no country has a problem to obtain arms on
the global market. If Israel were to totally refrain, another country
would sell arms anyway.
Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/783736/israels-ambassador-on-armenian-turkish-ties-selling-arms-to-azerbaijan-and-armenian-genocide.html