Armenia officially recognizes state of Palestine
In a surprise announcement, the Republic of Armenia declares joining the UNGA's resolution in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and recognizing the state of Palestine.
Armenia announced recognizing the state of Palestine, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said, "The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing military conflict is one of the primary issues on the international political agenda that requires resolution. The Republic of Armenia categorically rejects the targeting of civilian infrastructures, violence against the civilian population and the hostage-taking and capture of civilians during the armed conflict and joins the demands of the international community for their release without preconditions."
It further declared joining the resolutions of the UN General Assembly for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“Moreover, the Republic of Armenia is sincerely interested in the establishment of peace and stability in the Middle East, the establishment of lasting reconciliation between the Jewish and Palestinian peoples.”
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It stressed advocating "for a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and support the 'two-state' principle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict solution. We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis can realize their legitimate aspirations."
It concluded by saying that “based on the above and reaffirming its commitment to international law and the principles of equality, sovereignty and peaceful coexistence of peoples, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine.”
Following the Caucasus nation's decision, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said it summoned the Armenian ambassador for a “stern reprimand”.
This comes a month after Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized Palestine, a move that sparked anger from "Israel", which is increasingly isolated due to its ongoing genocide in Gaza.
These three European governments stated that their recognition was aimed at supporting a "two-state solution" and promoting peace in the Middle East. They expressed hope that their decision would encourage other EU states to follow their lead.
Following in their footsteps, Slovenia's government, led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, announced on May 30 its decision to recognize the sovereignty of an independent Palestinian state.