Arms Sales to Azerbaijan Are Deadly, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan Tells Jerusalem Post

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, answered questions from the Jerusalem Post:

Question: How did the recent clashes begin? What do you think Azerbaijan is trying to achieve?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: The clashes in July did not arise in a vacuum. Prior to the escalation, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan continuously issued threats of war, making territorial and historical claims against Armenia, accompanied by voiced dissatisfaction with the activities of international mediators—the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. This was Azerbaijan's second attempt to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict exclusively on its own terms. The recent tensions revealed that Azerbaijan's demonstration of force and its perceived military superiority significantly backfired, and we witnessed a clear miscalculation.

Question: Is Armenia prepared for a ceasefire?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia has agreed to all proposals made by international mediators to strengthen the ceasefire through increasing the number of observers on the ground and establishing mechanisms to investigate ceasefire violations. Armenia continues to advocate for such and other measures aimed at reducing the risks of escalation.

Question: We see that Azerbaijan is using a lot of Israeli ammunition (drones, missiles). Have you ever raised your concerns before the Israeli government? Have you urged Israel to rethink the sale of this weaponry to Azerbaijan?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: The sale of arms to Azerbaijan is deadly, as Azerbaijan does not hesitate to use these weapons against civilian infrastructure and the civilian population. We are relentless in pursuing this issue; it will always be an inseparable part of our agenda on both bilateral and international platforms. Israel must end its deadly dealings with Azerbaijan.

Question: It is said that during the recent combat operations, Armenia successfully shot down Israeli drones. What can you tell us about that?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: For us, these weapons are deadly, as they kill our people. Our servicemen have neutralized Azerbaijani armaments, regardless of their supposed source. There are numerous facts regarding the weaponry acquired by Azerbaijan and used against the civilian infrastructure and population of Armenia and Artsakh, and the events of July provided additional evidence.

Question: For years, Israel has hesitated to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Do you have such expectations from Israel? Have you recently raised this issue with your counterparts in Israel?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by a people that has endured the horrors of the Holocaust is a moral issue. It is a matter of conscience. I know that many Jews—public figures, intellectuals, and ordinary people—share this view. However, the Israeli authorities must decide whether to recognize the Armenian Genocide or refrain from doing so. This matter is not only relevant to Armenia; it is also pertinent to Israel.