YEREVAN (Azg)–The Israeli foreign ministry Monday responded to a diplomatic note sent by its Armenian counterpart last week regarding statemen’s made by Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Rivka Kohen–who said parallels could not be drawn between the Jewish Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide.
"As Jews and as Israelis we are especially saddened by the deaths and tragedy which occurred between 1915 and 1916. We understand the emotional relevance for both sides and we are aware that there have been a large number of victims and the plight of the Armenia’s," said the Israeli foreign ministry.
"This issue requires extensive research by a wide spectrum of people and academic dialogue that are based on testimony and proof," added the Israeli foreign ministry.
Israel asserted that the Holocaust was a singular event in human history and was premeditated against the Jews.
"Israel recognizes the tragedy of the Armenia’s and the plight of the Armenian people. Nevertheless–the events cannot be compared to genocide–and that does not in any way diminish the magnitude of the tragedy," outlined the Israeli foreign ministry while underlining its warm relations with Turkey.
The Foreign Ministry of Armenia noted protest against the Foreign Ministry of Israel in connection with the recent statement of Israel’s Ambassador Rivki Kohen’s statement concerning the Armenian Genocide.
In the note of the protest–the Foreign Ministry Public Relations department said that Armenia considers any attempt of rejecting or belittling the significance of the Armenian Genocide as inadmissible–regardless of the motivation. Armenia has never thought of drawing parallels between the Armenian Genocide and the Jewish Holocaust–considering any crime against the human race "unique" with its political–legal–historical–and moral consequences.
Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Dzyunik Aghajanian said on Thursday that an Armenian delegation led by Foreign Minister Oskanian was to pay a visit to Israel–which Kohen said was to give a boost to development of bilateral economic relations was not planned.
Spokeswoman Aghajanian commented that "at this moment no visit on the level of foreign affairs minister is planned to Israel–and no delegation is expected form Israel to Armenia."