Exclusive interview of the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to Mediamax

- What should Israel and Armenia do to take their relations to a new level? There is an impression that none of the sides is willing to make steps for a real rapprochement although both sides claim there are no major political disagreements.

- First of all, I hope that the impression that both sides are not interested in taking steps to bring themselves closer together is a false one. Indeed, from our viewpoint there are no weighty problems in our bilateral relations, but in order to give those ties solid content we need to operate in a number of spheres:

-    First, through mutual high-level visits;

-    Second, through cultural and scientific exchanges;

-     Third, through the improvement of our economic and commercial ties.

The order is not essential, but that we work as one; while we have an ambassador (albeit, non-resident) in your country, Armenia has no parallel representation in Israel. Clearly, an Armenian ambassador in Israel could also do much on his part to create a closer relationship between both countries.

- In a recent interview with us Israeli Ambassador to Armenia quite frankly spoke about the absence of an Armenian Ambassador in Israel, event non-resident Ambassador. Have you discussed this issue with your Armenian counterparts and what is their response?

- In this context I have to mention a matter that was raised by your side at the highest levels; apparently Armenia prefers to see first and foremost the establishment of a permanent Israeli embassy in Yerevan.  As I see it, I would reverse the order, in other words strengthening the relations between each other will lead to greater interaction and will in turn create the need to establish a permanent embassy. The joint work today of non-resident ambassadors from each country would result in the need to establish permanent embassies in both countries.

- Armenian President visited Israel with non-official visit in early 2000, but Israeli President or PM never came to Armenia. What is the reason? And do you think that such top-level visit could become possible in the near future?

- The visit of Armenia's President in 2000 was carried out within the framework of the visit of scores of leaders who came to the Holy Land to mark the millennium. While we certainly do not belittle the importance of that visit, it is different from a bilateral State Visit. Furthermore, the visit of a high-level personage from Israel is certainly reasonable and I see no impediment to it.

- Israel does not recognize the Armenian Genocide because of the political reasons and “realpolitik” as your Ambassador told us. However, don’t you think that if such an approach could be “acceptable” in case of U.S., Britain and other states, Israel should stand over them as it knows better then everyone what it means - to try to kill a nation?

- It is no secret that the mass murder of the Armenian people during the First World War is a most sensitive matter and as a people that also suffered from persecution and murder we are especially sensitive to that. However, since the subject, most regrettably, has become political, it needs to be handled with great care. Israel has never denied the Armenian tragedy, but we do not wish to become party to the confrontation between Turkey and Armenian on this important issue.

- Please tell us about the current state of Turkish-Israeli relations. Do you see any room for improving them soon?

- I do not consider it appropriate to refer within the framework of an interview to the Armenian press to Israel's relations with a third country.

- The number of Armenian tourists visiting Israel is growing. Is it possible to facilitate the visa regime for the Armenian citizens?

- The subject of the visas of Armenians who arrive in Israel is being examined by us these very days, in keeping with the recommendations brought by our ambassador following his last visit to your country. We hope that a solution will soon be found.

- Maybe both sides could implement some joint cultural projects? For instance, maybe some artists from Armenia can come and perform in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem for all the people living in the city - Jews, Arabs, Armenians, etc? Are you ready to consider such ideas if there are made by the Armenian side?

- I have already replied to the idea that you are suggesting in the first part of my answer to the first question: cultural exchanges are an integral part of relations between countries and we, of course, would be happy to host Armenians here in Jerusalem and everywhere else in Israel. For our part we have already brought a number of Israeli artists to Armenia, including within the framework of the last reception we held in celebration of Israel's Independence Day.