Armenia Welcomes France and UK Recognition of Palestine at U.N. Conference

Armenia has reaffirmed its commitment to peacefully resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by supporting the Two-State Solution. This plan calls for the creation of two independent states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Armenia welcomed the recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by France and the United Kingdom as a positive step toward this goal.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan spoke at a high-level international conference that took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The conference focused on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two-State Solution. It was co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia and brought together senior diplomats and policymakers from many countries.

During his speech, Kostanyan emphasized Armenia’s full support for the creation of two independent states. He mentioned Armenia’s official recognition of the State of Palestine in June 2024, followed by the establishment of diplomatic relations during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

Kostanyan also welcomed the recent announcements from French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Kingdom about recognizing Palestinian statehood. He said the meeting between the foreign ministers of France and Palestine in Armenia, held during the Yerevan Dialogue diplomatic forum, helped pave the way for this historic development. 

“We are also particularly proud that the Foreign Ministers of France and Palestine had a chance to meet in Armenia in the margins of the Yerevan Dialogue diplomatic forum,” he added.

Drawing on Armenia’s own experiences with war, Kostanyan spoke about the country’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid. He mentioned Armenia’s recent delivery of aid to Gaza and ongoing support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Additionally, Armenia signed a new agreement with Palestine to temporarily protect endangered cultural heritage at the Matenadaran, the Armenian Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

Kostanyan also stressed the importance of protecting Christian heritage and the rights of Christian communities in the region. Armenia, known as one of the world’s oldest Christian nations, places special importance on preserving Christian sites in the Holy Land. He called for full respect of the historic Status Quo arrangements that govern Christian holy places in Jerusalem and beyond.

While addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Kostanyan also condemned the attacks that took place on October 7, 2023. He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees. He urged the enforcement of a ceasefire and demanded unrestricted humanitarian access to support those in need. Kostanyan added that only negotiations, not violence, can lead to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. 

In closing, the Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister thanked France and Saudi Arabia for organizing the conference. He reiterated Armenia’s willingness to contribute to peace and stability in the region.

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