Armenia Considers Opening Embassy in Israel: Deputy FM’s Interview to The Jerusalem Post

• 03.06.2019, 13:58
•  Region,  Near East,  World,  Armenia

Armenia wants Israel to halt arms sales to its enemy Azerbaijan but is not making it a condition for improving ties with Jerusalem, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigor Hovhannisyan said on Tuesday.

Hovhannisyan, in an interview with The Jerusalem Post, said Armenia is considering opening an embassy in Israel in order to take ties between the two countries to the "next level." It is not, however, considering opening that embassy in Jerusalem.

He said that while Armenia would like to see Israel reciprocate by opening an embassy in Yerevan, this would not be a prerequisite to opening an Armenian embassy in Israel. The two countries are represented in each other’s country by non-resident ambassadors.

Regarding reports about Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan – Israel is one of that country’s main weapons suppliers – the Armenian diplomat said his country would "welcome a situation" where Israel would do as the US and most European countries have done and not sell arms to either Armenia or Azerbaijan. The two countries are in an ongoing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.