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Armenia: A Brief Overview. A lecture by ambassador armen yeganian. Fact-sheet. Independent since 1991 Third Republic of Armenia Total Area – 29,743 km 2 Landlocked Population - 3,262,200 Government type: Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic. Capital city Yerevan. National Symbols.
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Armenia: A Brief Overview A lecture by ambassador armenyeganian
Fact-sheet • Independent since 1991 • Third Republic of Armenia • Total Area – 29,743 km2 • Landlocked • Population - 3,262,200 • Government type: • Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic Capital city Yerevan
National Symbols • Tricolor Flag • Red for the the Armenian people's continued struggle for survival • Blue for the the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skies • Orange the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of Armenia • Coat of Arms • Lion and Tiger holding the shield depicting Noah’s Ark on Holy Mount Ararat and the Coats of Arms of four Armenian Kingdoms • National Anthem • “Our Fatherland”
History • Lived on Armenian Highlands for millennia • Kura-Araxes culture in 4th-3rd millennia B.C. • Hayasa-Azzi and Nairi tribes since 2nd millennium B.C. • First kingdom – Urartu established in 859 B.C. by king Aramé • Kingdom of Urartu (Ararat) • Flourished in 8th century B.C. • Conquered by Medes mid-6th century B.C. • Orontid Armenia • Established in late 6th century B.C. as a Satrapy of Achaemenid Empire • Independent after the conquest of the Empire by Alexander the Great
History • Kingdom of Armenia (321 B.C. – 428 A.D.) • Three dynasties of Orontids, Artaxiads and Arshakids • A vast kingdom between rivaling empires Historical borders of the Armenian Kingdom
History • A short-lived empire under TigranesII the Great (95-55 B.C.) • Armenia “from sea to sea” – covering territorybetween Black, Caspian and Mediterranean seas • Tigranes finishes the mighty Seleucid Empire Armenia under Tigranes the Great
History • First Christian country • King Tiridates III institutes Christianity as state religion in 301 • Armenian alphabet created in 405 to spread Christianity wider Etchmiadzin Cathedral, built in 303 Armenian alphabet
History • Middle Ages • Fell to and divided between rivaling East Roman and Persian Empires • Armenian Kingdom restored in 9th century • Rule of Bagratuni Dynasty • Capital Ani, that had “one thousand and one” churches • Annexed by Byzantium in 1045 • Nobility moves to Cilicia and establishes a principality • Principality turns into powerful Kingdom, ally to Crusaders • Conquered by Egyptian Mamluks in 1375
History • No statehood until 20th century • Torn between Empires • Armenia and Armenians forgotten by the world • Unsuccessful liberation movements throughout the centuries • Semi-independent entities in Artsakh and Syunik in 18th century • Hamidian Massacres • Systematic slaughters of Armenians by Ottomans in late 1890s • Around 300.000 victims to the massacres • Precursor to the Genocide of Armenian people
Armenian Genocide • April 24, 1915 considered the inception of the Genocide • On that day more than 300 Armenian intellectuals, politicians, clergymen arrested and executed in Constantinople • Systematic murder of Armenian population throughout fading Empire • Massacres from 1908 to 1923 killed over 1.5 million Armenians • Armenians marched with no food or water to Deir-ez-Zor desert of Syria from all over Asia Minor • Remnants of Armenian population receive shelter in Syria, Lebanon, Russian Empire (Eastern Armenia) and Europe • Survivors spread around the globe and are the basis for the vast Armenian Diaspora • The first Genocide of the modern era, paved the way for Holocaust , Genocides in Cambodia, Darfur etc.
Modern Era • Short-lived First Republic in 1918-1920 • 70 years under Soviet Union • Regained long-awaited independence in 1991 • Young republic, member to various international organizations • Trustful partner to the international community • Has embassies in over 40 countries over the world • Issues with neighbours • Over 70% of the borders (Turkey and Azerbaijan) closed • Only route to Europe through Georgia, that has closed borders with Russia
International Recognition of Genocide • Recognition of Armenian Genocide as a part of foreign policy • 21 countries and 43 states of the USA have recognized • Most-renowned Genocide-studies’ organizations recognized and condemned, pushed Turkey to recognize • Turkey persists on the denialist policy • Canada recognized Armenian Genocide on all levels – House of Commons (1996, 2004), Senate (2002) and Government (2006) • Prime Minister addresses Armenians every April 24
Canada-Armenia Relations • Relations in 3 main areas • Political • Economical • Cultural • In General: • Relations based on mutual trust • Assistance to each other on International arena • Great prospects for economic ties • Big cultural ties – especially thanks to community
Canada-Armenia Political Relations • Armenia opened Embassy in Ottawa in 1995 • Embassy situated in a Spanish Colonial Revival style heritage building, built in 1908 • Friendly cooperation with the state establishment • Government as a whole, Department of Foreign Affairs in particular • Active cooperation on International level • Organizations such as UN, UNESCO, OSCE etc.
Canada-Armenia Political Relations • Parliamentary cooperation • Parliamentary friendship groups in both Parliaments • Canada-Armenia Friendship Group led by Harold Albrecht, M.P. • Armenia-Canada Friendship Group led by H.Sahakyan, M.P. • Periodical meetings in Armenia or Canada • Friendship group had huge influence on the recognition of Armenian Genocide in Canada • Planned high-level visit to strengthen parliamentary ties
Canada-Armenia Economic Relations • Canada was top investor in Armenia for the first 9 months of 2012 • Huge representation in Armenian mining industry • Mainly non-ferrous metals • Giants like Dundee Precious Metals and Lydian Canada • Growing cooperation in High-Tech • Gatineau-based Macadamian Technologies Yerevan branch: a success story • The future of economic ties
Canada-Armenia Cultural Ties • Armenian community as a connecting bridge • Around 80.000 Armenian living in Canada • Important figures: Yousuf Karsh, Atom Egoyan, Isabelle Bayrakdarian, Peter Oundjian etc. • Christianity as an important link • More than 15 Armenian churches throughout Canada • Shared values • Protection of human rights, democracy, rule of law
Participation in la Francophonie • Full-fledge member since 2012 • Cooperation for years • Observer since 2006, Associated Member since 2008 • Great assistance from Canadian side in the matters of Armenia’s membership • French language in Armenian history • French-Armenian dynasty of Lusignians • French mandate over Cilician Armenia • France – one of the main accepting countries for Armenians after the Genocide • Big Armenian community of around 500.000 in France
Finishing remarks • Armenia – a developing democratic country • More than 1 million tourists in 2012 • Safe and beautiful country with thousand years old churches and monasteries Thank you. Feel free to ask questions!