President Sarkissian gave an interview to Israel’s Public TV company: Recognition is just a step but it’s a step towards the future

President Armen Sarkissian, who visited Jerusalem on the occasion of the 5th World Holocaust Forum, gave an exclusive interview to Israel’s public TV channel.

The President of Armenia noted that first and foremost he viewed as his duty to participate at the event dedicated to the horrendous events which took place during WWII, and it was a great honor for him to represent the Armenian people. “I believe to participate to this event was Armenia’s duty, as well as my duty which was passed on me by my grandparents who had survived the Armenian Genocide.

We have gathered here to send a clear-cut message to the world – crimes like this one must never happen again. Sufferings of the people, who were subjected to the Holocaust, memories about them will never die, otherwise it would be the end of the world,” President Sarkissian said.

Responding to the question of a journalist what the President of Armenia feels related to the fact that Israel has not yet recognized the Armenian Genocide, Armen Sarkissian noted that he wouldn’t go into the reasons the Israeli parliament has not recognized the Genocide yet. “I know many Jewish politicians who support the recognition. I see no reason for the parliament of Israel not to recognize the Armenian Genocide. One thing is clear. If the reason is current political interest, political relations, or future political or, maybe, economic interests, it saddens me a lot because the lessons of the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide teach us that there is nothing worth compromising and allowing events like those happen again,” the President of Armenia underscored.

Responding to the question if the President of Armenia was disappointed by the fact that Israel has not recognized yet the Armenian Genocide, President Sarkissian noted that he was a politician who never loses his optimism. “I expect the relations between Armenia and Israel to deepen. We have many things in common. Both are small countries but great nations which have enormous culture. The human history, especially the history of the 20th century contains so many gruesome events, the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust… I believe enough is enough: we need to be more optimistic. We need to work together. I am waiting with optimism that not only all my Jewish friends but also the government of Israel will recognize the Armenian Genocide. After all, recognition is just a step but it’s a step towards the future,” the President of Armenia underlined.