AUA Students Protest on the Issue of Weapons Sales by Israel to Azerbaijan & Share Concerns on Israel’s Lack of Progress in Recognizing the Armenian Genocide

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YEREVAN, Armenia – On the first day of the Colloquium on Genocide and Literature, visiting scholars from Israel were met with a silent protest by students from the American University of Armenia (AUA). Israeli academics who joined Armenian colleagues to discuss comparative perspectives on Genocide and Literature responded to questions regarding weaponry sold to Azerbaijan by the Israeli government. Concerning the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition in the Knesset and weaponry sold to Azerbaijan by the Israeli government, AUA Visiting Professor from Israel and organizer of the colloquium, Yair Auron, stated in his opening speech: “We are ashamed of the attitude of our government.” Ora Ahimeir, founder and former director of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel, in her closing remarks pointed out: “Unfortunately relations between states are dictated by politics and political interests and not by morals.”

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides US-style education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.