Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent remarks on the Armenian Genocide, saying they do not serve the interests of Armenia or its people.
“It is obvious that Netanyahu’s statement has nothing to do with the interests of either the Republic of Armenia or the Armenian people,” Pashinyan said Thursday following a Cabinet meeting.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Prime Minister cautioned against allowing recognition of the genocide to become a tool of international politics.
“Do we want the recognition or non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide to be a geopolitical coin in the hands of others? Do we want it to be something expressed in an interview as a coincidence or confusion? I do not want us to put our martyrs in such a status,” he said.
Pashinyan further questioned what Armenia has tangibly gained from past recognitions. “So many countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Let’s now take stock of what Armenia has received. Is our objective to give others the opportunity to use our martyrs as a means of payment in geopolitical trade?”
According to Pashinyan, he has spoken with international colleagues on this topic and has even tried to understand the positions of some leaders on why they recognize the Armenian Genocide and with what motivation. According to him, the main motivation was to get more votes in political elections, which, the Prime Minister said, has nothing to do with the interests of the people of Armenia.
Netanyahu made headlines this week after personally recognizing the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek genocides in an interview with entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David on the Valuetainment podcast. While Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s Knesset had already passed such a resolution—an incorrect claim—he went on to declare recognition himself.
Despite Netanyahu’s words, Israel has never formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. Successive governments have blocked Knesset resolutions on the issue to avoid straining ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Official recognition would require a parliamentary vote.
Turkey reacted sharply to Netanyahu’s statement. Ankara’s Foreign Ministry condemned it as an attempt to “exploit the tragedies of the past” and accused the Israeli leader of using the issue to deflect from Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
