In an interview with Radio France International for their 3 July 2026 article entitled, “Why Israel's recognition of the Armenian genocide is raising new questions,” RSC Director Richard Giragosian offered his commentary.
His points follow:
“It was generally seen as too little too late,” Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Centre in Yerevan, told RFI. “Coupled with Israeli military support for neighbouring Azerbaijan in the war of 2020, this was much less of a welcome positive move than would be expected. There’s a degree of resentment in Armenia that the genocide issue has become ammunition in the conflict between the Israeli government and the Turkish leadership.”
“Azerbaijan's vehement criticism of the Israeli move is a step backwards, because it follows a year and a half of unprecedented progress in diplomatic negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Giragosian said.
He argued that Azerbaijan should not be part of the dispute. “Azerbaijan has no direct relevance to an issue between Armenia and Turkey and to global genocide recognition,” Giragosian said.
“It's Turkey that has to deal with a painful, difficult past and come to terms with the Armenian genocide. And it's Turkey more than any other country that has this burden of responsibility.”