BY RAFFY ARDHALDJIAN
Armenia, the ancient nation that survived genocide, took a significant step on June 21 by recognizing the State of Palestine. This decision aligns Armenia with over 140 countries and the Holy See, including recent recognitions by Spain, Norway, and Ireland, despite Israel’s strong objections. It underscores Armenia’s commitment to the equality of nations, opposition to violence against civilians, and the principles of self-determination and humanitarian solidarity.
Armenia’s support for a two-state solution is deeply rooted in its historical experiences. As a nation that has endured genocide and ethnic cleansing, we empathize with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing regional conflict. This moment amplifies Armenia’s voice on the international stage as one of the 193 UN members.
This decision is also significant given our longstanding presence in Jerusalem. The Armenian Quarter, one of the four quarters of the Old City, has been home to Armenians for centuries, with our presence dating back as early as the 4th century as the world’s first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion. Armenians in Jerusalem enjoy certain privileges and rights and are integral to the city’s cultural mosaic. Recognizing Palestine aligns with our historical role in Jerusalem.
For Armenians, this is a collective moment that speaks of our unity as a global transnational community alongside its nation-state. It transcends polarized politics and reminds us of the importance of unity among nations. It is a moment where the Diaspora’s lobbying groups should collaborate with Armenia’s embassies to amplify the significance of this historic decision.
By the way, many tried to also link the recognition to the recent long-distance call between Erdogan and Pashinyan. Moreover, the Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed Armenia’s recognition of Palestine, stressing that “Turkey will continue to spare no effort so that more countries recognize Palestine.” The author will deliberately ignore this narrative.
Armenians should take pride in this moment. It reflects our collective voice in response to an urgent humanitarian call, even when the world failed to address the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2023.
Armenia’s recognition of Palestine is a proud and significant moment for Armenians worldwide. It highlights that our humanitarian values are not influenced by religious identity, despite Azerbaijan’s attempts to portray Armenia negatively to the Muslim world, while being a major oil exporter to Israel, and the latter being its major arms supplier. This decision also underscores our consistent empathy for Holocaust remembrance, in stark contrast to the Israeli government’s refusal to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide to date.
Armenia’s recognition of Palestine today should remind everyone that our position stems from our unwavering moral compass, shared with 145 out of 193 nation-states that have had the courage to recognize the right of the Palestinian state to exist and as a path to the Middle East’s most intractable conflict. The symbolic possibility of a Palestinian state, helps enhance Palestine’s international standing, could possibly spur more countries to consider recognition and puts pressure on Israel to open negotiations on ending the war.
In conclusion, if my late Ottoman-Armenian grandmother Louisa, an orphan and genocide survivor who found refuge in the Armenian Monastery of Jerusalem after 1915, was given a voice today, when Armenia recognized Palestine as a state, she probably would have said, ” Yavroum, Armenia is not just any republic. It’s our collective memory. It could not have done otherwise, oghloum. You have not been in our Jerusalem quarters…ya?”