Armenian opposition MP criticizes government after Israel's recognition of Armenian Genocide

Armenian opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan says Israel's formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide highlights the Armenian government's retreat from pursuing international recognition of the atrocity.

Israel's government unanimously voted on Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, a move long sought by Armenia and Armenian advocacy groups.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Abrahamyan, a member of the Pativ Unem faction, argued that while other countries continue to acknowledge the genocide, Armenia's government has effectively removed the issue from its foreign policy agenda.

"One of the most dramatic aspects of the current situation is that another country recognizes the Armenian Genocide, while the Armenian regime removed the issue from the country's foreign policy agenda long ago," he wrote.

The MP said Israel's motivations, its complex relationship with Turkey and its extensive support for Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would remain matters of debate and analysis. However, he argued that Armenia's current foreign policy resembles an "ostrich policy" that avoids confronting difficult issues.

Abrahamyan also claimed that the Armenian authorities could eventually ask foreign governments not to raise the issue of the Armenian Genocide, just as they had done regarding Artsakh.