Epress.am News from Armenia
Israel’s politicians know what consequences Armenian Genocide recognition will have; they know that it will have a negative effect on Israel’s economy and security, said Rima Varzhapetyan, who’s known as the president of Armenia’s Jewish community, speaking on the Turkish factor in the issue of Israel recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
“You should not construct your own happiness on other’s misfortunes. Don’t think that relations between Israel and Turkey are in such a poor state. We can only dream that relations between Armenia and Israel constantly improve,” she said, speaking at a press conference in Yerevan today.
According to Varzhapetyan, the Armenian Genocide issue will be discussed at the Knisset (the House of Representatives of the State of Israel), and though positions have changed somewhat, politicians who’ve emigrated from Armenia “are seriously inclined and are taking on great load.”
In response to numerous questions by journalists in Armenia on the matter of Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Varzhapetyan said that “the Jewish world — including citizens of Israel — acknowledge this fact.
“However, there are political and economic issues, and relations with other countries. When Iran’s president was honored with a gold medal in Armenia, we were indignant, but we also understood that this was politics. Just as Armenia cannot do without Iran, Israel has similar notions on this issue.”
“National diplomacy is also a great force,” she added, advising Armenians to work with the people and with youth.
“People’s diplomacy is a very serious issue. If nations want something, there will be no alternative for the leadership,” concluded Varzhapetyan.