Interview with Evangelos D. Kokkinos
On the occasion of Armenia's participation, as an honored country, in the international tourism exhibition Philoxenia 2022, held November 18-20 at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair- Exhibition, the ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Tigran Mkrtchyan, speaking exclusively to Pentapostagma, said that we should raise Armenia-Greece cooperation to a significantly higher level, which will be in line with strategic cooperation.
"Armenia's participation in Greece's Philoxenia2022 exhibition is an opportunity for both Armenia and Greece to strengthen historically friendly ties and trigger further development of bilateral relations in tourism, trade, investment and economy in general", says Mr. Mkrtchyan, adding that it is symbolic that Armenia's participation in the Exhibition as an honored guest takes place in the context of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Greece.
"Armenian-Greek relations are based on common values, principles and blood ties, which are above all other kinds of contacts"
The ambassador of Armenia to Greece comments on the fact that the celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations takes place at a time when political ties between the two countries are at their highest level. He emphasizes, however, that "regarding Armenian-Greek business relations the economic indicators are very modest and there is so much space for expansion".
Mr. Mkrtchyan reveals that "one of the major tasks we have put for ourselves is increasing the number of Greek tourists to Armenia" while he urges "every Greek at least once in his life to see the temple and summer residence of an Armenian King at Garni,” a first-century Hellenistic temple in Armenia built by Greek architects more than 2,000 years ago.
Referring to the common geopolitical challenges faced by Greece and Armenia, the ambassador of the Republic of Armenia states that "we are working closely, each one doing their best to minimize the impacts of geopolitical challenges to Armenian-Greek business relations".
"Traditional friendly relations between Armenia and Greece and historically formed close ties have a great potential to further deepen cooperation between our countries, promoting mutual economic interests as well", he points out and adds that the core of his activities, "is not only the deepening of political and economic relations, but also the use of the great potential in fields of culture, science and education, between our countries".
"Greece is one of Armenia's most important partners in Europe and in the world"
Summarizing, Mr. Mkrtchyan talked about the Greek-Armenian blood ties. "Our countries and diasporas, together with our Cypriot brothers, are reciprocally supporting each other to achieve international recognition of our tragedies" he said referring to the Armenian and Pontian Genocides by the Ottoman Turks.
And he added that he "would like to emphasize that we will never forget the sincere support of the Greek people and the Government of Greece during the most difficult periods of our nation's history, the most recent example of which was the 2020 war, when Azerbaijan backed by Turkey and Islamic mercenaries attacked Artsakh and then in 2022 September when the territorial integrity was violated by Azerbaijan with an ongoing occupation of Armenian territories in the south and south eastern parts".
"I believe that despite the difficulties, we will manage to overcome them and pave the way for secure and prosperous Greece and Armenia for the sake of our nations", Ambassador Mkrtchyan cloncludes.
The full interview:
- In the context of 30th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, Armenia is the guest of honor in Greece's Philoxenia2022 exhibition. What is the purpose of Armenia's participation?
Armenia's participation in Greece's Philoxenia2022 exhibition is an opportunity for both Armenia and Greece to strengthen historically friendly ties and trigger further development of bilateral relations in tourism, trade, investment and economy in general. The purpose of Armenia's participation is to promote Armenian tourism, as well as investments in various sectors of the Armenian economy. It is an opportunity to promote bilateral and multilateral relations, both with friendly Greece and with other countries. Let’s not forget that this is the biggest regional exhibition on tourism and it is the first time ever that Armenia is taking part in it with this honorable status. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that this was the first time that Armenia participated in a Greek fair as an honoured guest. It was an excellent event and Armenia was very much visible, which was of course what we wanted.
It is symbolic for us that Armenia's participation in the Exhibition as a guest of honor takes place in the context of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Greece.
- How can Armenia and Greece overcome common geopolitical challenges through strengthening the tourism sector, bilateral trade and economic relations?
I can unequivocally say that we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries with political ties at the highest level. Regarding Armenian-Greek business relations the economic indicators are very modest and there is so much space for expansion. At the same time under the umbrella of our Ministries of Foreign Affairs, our Embassies, both in Yerevan and Athens, as well as relevant Ministries, in cooperation with Chambers of Commerce and Industry of our countries, the newly opened Honorary Consulate in Thessaloniki we are working closely, each one doing their best to minimize the impacts of geopolitical challenges to Armenian-Greek business relations. In this context the participation of Armenia as a guest of honor in Philoxenia2022 exhibition is a vital example of these efforts.
One of the major tasks we have put for ourselves is increasing the number of Greek tourists to Armenia. From Armenia there is a rather high percentage of tourism to Greece. The reverse way is not as active as would like to see, even though Aegean Airlines has 6 flights per week both directions. I won’t go into details about the touristic, gastronomical, cultural attractions of Armenia which bring hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. But there is one thing I would like to underline. Every Greek should at least once in his or her lifetime see the temple and Armenian king’s summer residence in Garni. This is a first century Hellenistic temple in Armenia, one of the most impressive in the world, and residence of Armenian kings, which was constructed by Greek architects more than 2000 years ago.
- How do you see further cooperation between Greece and Armenia? In which areas will we see bilateral cooperation strengthened?
First of all I would like to mention, that Armenian-Greek relations are based on common values, principles and blood ties, which are above all other kinds of contacts. Many Greeks have underlined this that after Cyprus, Armenia is like next kin to the Greeks. I should say that this feeling is reciprocated by Armenians. These are relations which are beyond and above interest-based relations that each of us can have with this or that country.
At the same time traditional friendly relations between Armenia and Greece and historically formed close ties have a great potential to further deepen cooperation between our countries, promoting mutual economic interests as well. As I have already mentioned since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries we are enjoying close political ties at the highest level, excellent cooperation in defense, dynamic inter-parliamentary dialogue, and multilateral mutually beneficial cooperation on international platforms. I can say that the core of my activities, as an Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Hellenic Republic is not only the deepening of political and economic relations, but also the use of the great potential in fields of culture, science and education, between our countries.
- What is the current state of Greek-Armenian cooperation? What are the strengths and weaknesses?
Relations between Armenia and Greece are very strong, both emotionally and historically, due to the co-existence of Armenians and Greeks during the Byzantine period and under the Ottoman Empire. Greece is one of the countries which officially recognized the Genocide of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. The Greek Genocide was recognized by Armenia as well. Our countries and diasporas, together with our Cypriot brothers, are reciprocally supporting each other to achieve international recognition of our tragedies.
I would like to emphasize that we will never forget the sincere support of the Greek people and the Government of Greece during the most difficult periods of our nation's history, the most recent example of which was the 2020 war, when Azerbaijan backed by Turkey and Islamic mercenaries attacked Artsakh and then in 2022 September when the territorial integrity was violated by Azerbaijan with an ongoing occupation of Armenian territories in the south and south eastern parts.
Greece is one of Armenia's most important partners in Europe and in the world. As I already mentioned this year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries and during these three decades, more than 40 documents were signed between the two countries. My opinion is that we should raise Armenia-Greece cooperation to a significantly higher level, which will be in line with strategic cooperation. We have made progress and reached common understanding on several important issues. I am sure that in the near future we will register tangible success in this direction. In order to survive we have to stick to one another more firmly as we are entering geopolitically more dangerous phase of development, with major world powers having clashing interests and policies and with neighbours bent on megalomaniac ideas of expansion at our cost and in full disregard of international law. I believe that despite the difficulties, we will manage to overcome them and pave the way for secure and prosperous Greece and Armenia for the sake of our nations.
