armen yeganian Armenia A Brief Overview Factsheet Independent since 1991 Third Republic of Armenia Total Area 29743 km 2 Landlocked Population 3262200 Government type ID: 213881
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A lecture by ambassador armen yeganian
Armenia:
A Brief OverviewSlide2
Fact-sheet
Independent since 1991
Third Republic of Armenia
Total Area – 29,743 km2LandlockedPopulation - 3,262,200Government type: Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Capital city YerevanSlide3
National Symbols
Tricolor Flag
Red for the
the Armenian people's continued struggle for survivalBlue for the the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skiesOrange the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of ArmeniaCoat of ArmsLion and Tiger holding the shield depicting Noah’s Ark on Holy Mount Ararat and the Coats of Arms of four Armenian KingdomsNational Anthem“Our Fatherland”Slide4
History
Lived on Armenian Highlands for millennia
Kura-Araxes culture in 4
th-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 6
th
century B.C. as a Satrapy of Achaemenid EmpireIndependent after the conquest of the Empire by Alexander the GreatSlide5
HistoryKingdom of Armenia (321 B.C. – 428 A.D.)
Three dynasties of
Orontids
, Artaxiads and ArshakidsA vast kingdom between rivaling empires
Historical borders of the Armenian KingdomSlide6
HistoryA short-lived empire under
Tigranes
II the Great (95-55 B.C.)Armenia “from sea to sea” – covering territory between Black
, Caspian and Mediterranean seasTigranes finishes the mighty Seleucid Empire
Armenia under
Tigranes
the GreatSlide7
HistoryFirst Christian country
King
Tiridates
III institutes Christianity as state religion in 301Armenian alphabet created in 405 to spread Christianity widerEtchmiadzin
Cathedral, built in 303
Armenian alphabetSlide8
HistoryMiddle Ages
Fell to and divided between rivaling East Roman and Persian Empires
Armenian Kingdom restored in 9
th centuryRule of Bagratuni DynastyCapital Ani, that had “one thousand and one” churchesAnnexed by Byzantium in 1045Nobility moves to Cilicia and establishes a principalityPrincipality turns into powerful Kingdom, ally to Crusaders
Conquered by Egyptian Mamluks in 1375Slide9
HistoryNo statehood until 20
th
century
Torn between EmpiresArmenia and Armenians forgotten by the worldUnsuccessful liberation movements throughout the centuriesSemi-independent entities in Artsakh and Syunik in 18th centuryHamidian MassacresSystematic slaughters of Armenians by Ottomans in late 1890s
Around 300.000 victims to the massacresPrecursor to the Genocide of Armenian peopleSlide10
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 EmpireMassacres from 1908 to 1923 killed over 1.5 million ArmeniansArmenians marched with no food or water to Deir-ez-Zor desert of Syria from all over Asia MinorRemnants of Armenian population receive shelter in Syria, Lebanon, Russian Empire (Eastern Armenia) and EuropeSurvivors 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.Slide11
Modern EraShort-lived First Republic in 1918-1920
70 years under Soviet Union
Regained long-awaited independence in 1991
Young republic, member to various international organizationsTrustful partner to the international communityHas embassies in over 40 countries over the worldIssues with neighboursOver 70% of the borders (Turkey and Azerbaijan) closedOnly route to Europe through Georgia, that has closed borders with RussiaSlide12
International Recognition of GenocideRecognition 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 policyCanada recognized Armenian Genocide on all levels – House of Commons (1996, 2004), Senate (2002) and Government (2006)Prime Minister addresses Armenians every April 24Slide13
Canada-Armenia RelationsRelations in 3 main areas
Political
Economical
CulturalIn General:Relations based on mutual trustAssistance to each other on International arenaGreat prospects for economic tiesBig cultural ties – especially thanks to communitySlide14
Canada-Armenia Political RelationsArmenia 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 particularActive cooperation on International levelOrganizations such as UN, UNESCO, OSCE etc.Slide15
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 CanadaFriendship group had huge influence on the recognition of Armenian Genocide in CanadaPlanned high-level visit to strengthen parliamentary tiesSlide16
Canada-Armenia Economic RelationsCanada 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 CanadaGrowing cooperation in High-TechGatineau-based Macadamian Technologies Yerevan branch: a success storyThe future of economic tiesSlide17
Canada-Armenia Cultural TiesArmenian 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 linkMore than 15 Armenian churches throughout CanadaShared valuesProtection of human rights, democracy, rule of law Slide18
Participation in la Francophonie
Full-fledge member since 2012
Cooperation for years
Observer since 2006, Associated Member since 2008Great assistance from Canadian side in the matters of Armenia’s membershipFrench language in Armenian historyFrench-Armenian dynasty of LusigniansFrench mandate over Cilician ArmeniaFrance – one of the main accepting countries for Armenians after the GenocideBig Armenian community of around 500.000 in FranceSlide19
Finishing remarksArmenia – 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!