YEREVAN. – At its Cabinet session on Thursday, the government of Armenia reached a decision to open an embassy in Israel.

In the justification of this decision it is noted, in particular, that in order to ensure the sustainable development of Armenian-Israeli relations, it is important to establish the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia (RA) in Tel Aviv as soon as possible—between late 2019 and early 2020.

“The establishment of the RA Embassy in Israel, and thus giving a new impetus to bilateral relations, is aimed at more effectively protecting Armenia’s interests in the region,” the statement also reads. “The founding of an embassy [in Israel] is also aimed at state-level engagement in the preservation of the age-old Armenian presence, rich historical-cultural heritage, being the rightful owner of the Holy Places of the Armenian Apostolic Church.”

Asked whether Israel, in turn, plans to open an embassy in Armenia, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said as follows: “It’s on the agenda of our dialogue. [But] we [Armenia] will not condition our steps on the circumstance of Israel opening an embassy in the Republic of Armenia; but that has been and remains on our agenda. Our [Armenia’s] presence in Israel will strengthen our arguments and the matter we raise that we have an Israeli Embassy here [in Armenia], too.”

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Israel were established in April 1992.