Video: Recognition of the Genocide is Not Our Top Priority, Says Foreign Minister

The international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not the number one priority of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint meeting of parliamentary committees presenting the draft budget for 2025, in response to a question from Armenian lawmakers member Armen Rustamyan.

The MP inquired whether the Foreign Ministry is engaged in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the international recognition of the Genocide. “As you can assume from my enumeration of priorities, that is not our number one priority. The tragic historical events, studying the Armenian Genocide, or making it our number one priority is not on the agenda of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Mirzoyan said.

Speaking about the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mirzoyan reminded that the Armenian Foreign Ministry is working on normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and signing a peace agreement. “When you say Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we understand it as the entire conflict that has existed legally since the agreement has not been signed, it is not over between Armenia and Azerbaijan. What we are currently engaged in is titled ‘Normalization of relations with Azerbaijan,’” stated the Foreign Minister.

The MP also asked whether the official Yerevan intends to make the return of Armenian captives held in Baku a prerequisite for Armenia's participation in COP 29. Mirzoyan noted that the issue of captives is one of the top priorities. Regarding COP 29, the participation of the Armenian side has not yet been confirmed.