Armenia, Jordan against any changes in status quo of Old City of Jerusalem
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The parties commended the current high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Jordan, both highlighting the important role of high-level visits and regular contacts on international platforms.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the prospects of developing cooperation between the two countries in the spheres of trade and economy, IT and AI, tourism, science, education and culture, as well as on deepening the partnership within the framework of international organisations.
The sides expressed their concerns regarding the tense situation around the "Cows' Garden" territory in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem, refuting any action that would lead to a change of the Status Quo of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Deputy Minister Vahan Kostanyan presented to the Jordanian delegation the efforts of the Armenian side towards achieving sustainable peace in the South Caucasus, the "Crossroad of Peace" project recently developed by the Government of Armenia emphasising the key principles of sovereignty, national jurisdiction, reciprocity and equality, which are the basis of the reopening of communications
He expressed gratitude to his counterpart regarding the statement of Jordanian Foreign Ministry on the border delimitation agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of 1991 the Alma-Ata Declaration.
The Jordanian Secretary General Ambassador Al-Qatarneh, in turn, presented security issues in the Middle East, particularly, the vision of official Amman in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On April 3, 2024, at approximately 11:00 local time, the Israeli police began an illegal eviction from the territory of the "Cow Garden" of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, destroying the property of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as attacking the clergy and local Armenians. Let us add that this is not the first attempt to forcefully seize the property of the Armenian Patriarchate in the Old City.
These actions of the Israeli police have already been condemned by the French Consulate General, which called on the Israeli authorities to refrain from unilateral actions in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem and the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.
The Armenian community of Jerusalem has been protecting its property 24/7 since November 5, 2023. In the last 150 days alone, its representatives have faced a barrage of unpunished attacks.
The Save the Garden movement calls on all international organizations to put pressure on the Israeli government to resolve this situation, which threatens the 1,700-year-old presence of Armenians in the holy city of Jerusalem.
In July 2021, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem signed an agreement with an Israeli company, giving it the right to build a luxury hotel on the Cow Garden site, with the right to demolish several historical buildings. The Patriarchate canceled the deal after protests from the Armenian community, as well as the authorities of the Palestinian Authority. Following this, attacks began against the Armenian community, with the latest attack occurring on December 28, 2023, when about 30 armed men attacked the site, injuring several Armenian activists on duty there, including a priest and seminary students.