Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, during a July 29 speech at a the international conference at UN Headquarters in New York, aimed at advancing practical steps toward achieving a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, welcomed the announcement of French President Emmanuel Macron and the recent statement by the UK that they intend to recognize the independence of the State of Palestine. 

“Armenia does believe that only two independent neighbor states can guarantee long-lasting stability, security, peace and prosperity for the Palestinian and also Israeli people, where all enjoy the benefits of peaceful co-existence,” Kostanyan said, noting that Armenia recognized the State of Palestine in June 2024 with this position in mind.

Kostanyan announced that Yerevan’s Matenadaran (manuscripts repository) will temporarily house Palestinian endangered cultural artifacts.  

The U.S. and Israel boycotted the summit organized by France and Saudi Arabia.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon late Tuesday sharply criticized the some 125 countries participating in the conference, saying “there are those in the world who fight terrorists and extremist forces and then there are those who turn a blind eye to them or resort to appeasement.”

Kostanyan and Palestine’s Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian met in New York on Tuesday at the summit and discussed the situation in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, this according to a statement by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

Photo: Palestine's FM Varsen Aghabekian, Armenian Deputy FM Vahan Kostanyan meet in New York on July 29