NEWS.am interviewed the newly appointed Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Shmuel Meirom.

Mr. Ambassador, how will you assess the current level of Israeli-Armenian relations?

I would assess them as good relations but not enough. That is why I see my role here in deepening the relationship, and exactly about this we talked yesterday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I can see great potential also in economic relationship. I think we can do more. We are waiting for appointment of a new ambassador to Israel which is still vacant. May be together we can do something.

What is Israel’s stance on Nagorno-Karabakh issue?

We are supporting the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. For us whatever they say is ok. If it is good for you it is good for us, I mean good for both sides. The Minsk Group is very objective and is trying to do its utmost to resolve this problem and we support them.

Jewish and Armenian nations have faced genocides, Armenians in 1915 and Jewish people Holocaust. Certain politicians and public figures have recently called on the Israeli government to recognize the Armenian Genocide. What do you think is it possible at the current stage that Israel will recognize the Armenian Genocide?

First of all Israel never denied it. Jewish people have special sensitivity to what happened during the World War I.  We do not deny that some mass killing happened. Unfortunately this issue has become very sensitive between you and Turks. It became a political issue. That is why we do not want to decide exactly what occurred because every side has its own position. We are very sensitive to what happened and we never denied it but we do not want to go into the political issue of this. That is why we think that both sides should sit together and investigate exactly what happened according to facts and an open dialogue between them. But it is not true to say that we are not recognizing what happened, we know exactly, we are very sensitive to mass killings we have many refugees of mass killing in Israel, we know them personally. We heard a lot of stories about what happened. We know exactly.

Last year Armenia and Turkey signed protocols on establishment and development of bilateral relations. What do you think how will opening of the Armenian-Turkish border can affect the entire region which faces many problems?

First of all we support but it should be continued. Up to now we understand that you cannot develop the process. We think that it can bring more prosperity to these areas of the region, most for Turks, Armenians and other nations, great thing for all Caucasus.  We very much support the dialogue and hope it will have results.

According to reports by foreign press there has recently been a chill in Israeli-Turkish relations. Is it so?

I am afraid it is so but not because of Israel, mainly because of the Turkish side. They decided to deteriorate relationship with Israel but we are not reacting accordingly. For us good relationship should continue. It depends on them if they like to do it or not. But it is true that there is some chill.

If it is so, in this context can there be some relations between Armenia and Israel that is in the context of Israel’s not so good relations with Turkey?

No, I think this is a separate issue which has nothing to do with the relationship between Israel and Armenia. It should be so, relations with Turkey are relations with Turkey, they do not depend on relations with Armenia.

Armenia is the only regional state, we mean the South Caucasus, that does not have Israeli embassy here. Is it possible that it will be established in Yerevan in the near future?

It is possible but it does not depend on me. I will do my utmost in order to realize it.  Both sides feel lack of embassies. Meanwhile, as non-resident ambassador I will do my utmost to fill this gap.

We have large Armenian community in Israel.   We would like to ask you whether there will be some changes in visa regime. Is any relaxation of visa requirements expected?

May be, we have to discuss, it is possible of course. You have an honorary consul in Jerusalem he is doing a very good job. It is a real problem here when Armenian citizens should go to Tbilisi or other places to issue a visa. We shall try to resolve this problem somehow, may be to receive visa at the airport.