PRESS RELEASE
March 7, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Ambassador Arman Kirakossian’s Farewell Address to the Armenian American
Community
Dear compatriots,
At the end of March, I will complete my diplomatic mission as Armenian
Ambassador to the United States, and return to Yerevan to continue to work
at the Foreign Ministry.
During my tenure as Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States, I have always
communicated with the Armenian American community to keep them apprised of
the Embassy’s diplomatic activities, through press releases and annual New
Year addresses. I believe that the tradition of openness and transparency
has served the Embassy well. Before my departure, I want to share with you
my impressions and perspective on the course of U.S.-Armenian relations and
the highlights of my mission as Ambassador of Armenia in Washington, DC.
I believe that U.S.-Armenian relations have strengthened and expanded
greatly within the last 5 years, a process I am privileged and proud to have
been associated with. In part, the quality of our bilateral relations today
reflects an Armenia that is more stable, economically dynamic, and confident
domestically than it was 5 years ago.
The political dialog between the United States and the Republic of Armenia
continues on highest levels. Armenian President Robert Kocharian visited
with President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, and Armenian
Cabinet members, including the Foreign Minister visit the United States on
periodic basis. Institutionally, the U.S.-Armenian Economic Task Force was
established in 1999 and since then, it has held its sessions biannually,
bringing together government officials from Armenia and the United States to
discuss issues of mutual interest in the areas of economic development,
economic, social, and legal reforms, trade and commerce, and energy. Armenia
and the United States periodically hold security consultations to discuss
issues of bilateral, regional, and global importance.
The United States has continued its positive involvement as the Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, upholding its commitment to a peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The highlight of my term as Ambassador was
the Armenian-Azeri negotiations at Key West, Florida, hosted by the United
States government.
Economic and commercial relations between our countries have always been the
focus of my attention during my term as Ambassador, reflecting Armenia’s
continued need for foreign investment and increasing exports from Armenia.
The Business Forum in New York in May 2001, as well as Armenian Products
Expos held in Los Angeles in 2001 and 2002 boosted bilateral economic
cooperation. Armenian exports to the United States increased nearly
threefold, from 15.2 million dollars in 1999 to 46.1 million dollars in
2004. U.S. investments in Armenia also increased, especially in the
hospitality and software industries. It is heartening to know that every
year there is greater number of Armenian Americans traveling to Armenia for
business or pleasure. Both in Washington and during my visits to other parts
of the United States, I have promoted the Armenian industry and products,
encouraging the members of the local Armenian American community to visit
Armenia, and invest in the Armenian economy.
The United States government continues to provide significant assistance to
help Armenia’s economic transition. Armenia’s solid macroeconomic
performance was credited by the United States Government in its decision to
make Armenia eligible as potential recipient of a new form of U.S.
assistance, the Millennium Challenge Account, to promote further economic
growth and alleviate poverty in Armenia. The United States provided critical
support to ensure Armenia’s accession to the World Trade Organization, which
reinforced Armenia’s status as trade-oriented, liberal economy. Armenia’s
membership in the WTO validates the economic reforms in Armenia and helps
break the myth of Armenia’s isolation from the world. Since Armenia joined
the WTO, the United States granted our country the Permanent Normal Trade
Relations status. Most of Armenia’s exports to the U.S. qualify for a
duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences program. I
am confident that U.S.-Armenian trade relations will continue to increase
for many years to come.
Armenia’s military cooperation with the United States began in 2001, soon
after the terrible tragedy of 9/11 struck. The Armenian people expressed
their sympathy with the Americans, and the Government of Armenia has
provided tangible support to U.S.-led global war on terrorism. One of the
consequences of the post-September 11 geopolitical dynamics was the waiver
of Section 907, although U.S. government committed to ensuring that any
military assistance to Azerbaijan will not be used to destabilize the
fragile cease-fire regime. In the last five years, Armenia and the United
States exchanged visits by the Armenian Defense Minister and U.S. Defense
Secretary, as well as by high-ranking military officers of both countries.
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the State of Kansas National
Guard have established a State Partnership Program. The U.S. military
provided assistance to help Armenia to train a demining unit and to
establish peacekeeping capability. Armenian soldiers and officers serve with
their counterparts from the U.S. and other partner nations within NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program, and in the peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.
Armenia’s contingent is also serving in Iraq with many other nations, making
its contribution to stability and reconstruction in that nation.
During my tenure as Ambassador to the U.S., I have been privileged to visit
many universities and think tanks, attend conferences and seminars, and meet
with many distinguished scholars and academics. I have used these
opportunities to keep Armenian and non-Armenian audiences apprised of
Armenia’s domestic and foreign policies, social and economic development,
progress in democratization and economic transition.
As an historian, I have done my best to promote the Armenian Studies,
cooperation between Armenian Studies scholars in Armenia and the United
States, as well as collaboration between universities and scientists in both
countries. A recently published report on Science and Technology in Armenia,
prepared by the U.S. National Academies of Science, presents the current
state and prospects for development of the Armenian science and technology
sector, which has much to offer toward building a prosperous Armenia. I have
also made a modest contribution to the Armenian Political Studies via
publication of two books in English, “British Diplomacy and the Armenian
Question: from the 1830’s to 1914,” and “The Armenian Massacres, 1894-1896:
U.S. Media Testimony.”
Over the last five years, the Embassy has continued to promote the Armenian
culture, Armenia’s important business card. The tradition of holding
concerts, exhibitions, recitals, and community events truly makes the
Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC into the House of Armenia. We are truly
proud of the Embassy building, which is among the best Armenian chanceries
abroad, and its preservation and maintenance remained the focus of attention
of the Embassy, as well as the Building Committee comprised of distinguished
members of the Armenian American community. The building has received
necessary renovations and repair all these years.
In 2001, a khachkar stone sculpture, made in Armenia, was erected on the
Embassy grounds, in the garden, to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of
establishment of Christianity as the official religion in Armenia. His
Holiness Garegin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
graced the Embassy with his presence, and personally consecrated the
Khachkar, as a visible reminder of Armenia’s legacy in the heart of
Washington. For the last three years since the Khachkar was erected at the
Embassy, the members of the Washington-based Armenian community gather there
on April 24 to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This
solemn occasion brings together Armenians from all walks of life and
backgrounds, and the Embassy is proud to have contributed to the unity and
cohesion of the Armenian community in Washington.
Hardly a week goes by without an occasional visitor dropping by the Embassy
for a quick tour of the building. We keep our doors open, and I encourage
you to keep us in your minds during your next visit to Washington, DC. You
can also visit us virtually from the comfort of your office or home with the
help of the Embassy website,
It has been said many times that people are Armenia’s primary resource,
whether in the Homeland or in the Diaspora. It has been a great pleasure for
me to visit Armenian-American communities in the United States, go to the
Armenian Churches, meet with community organizations and activists, and host
them at the Embassy. I have appreciated the candor with which the
Armenian-Americans discussed the many challenges facing Armenia, and I
remain convinced that Armenians in the Homeland and in the Diaspora share
the same goals, aspirations, and vision of a stable, democratic, and
prosperous Armenia.
During my years in the United States, the Embassy of Armenia has received
tremendous assistance and moral support from the Armenian-American
community. I have worked closely with the Armenian Assembly of America and
the Armenian National Committee of America, other Armenian-American
political and cultural organizations, their local chapters and grassroots
activists. Armenia owes its successes and achievements to thousands of
Armenian-American activists, who successfully lobby in support of Armenian
issues and on behalf of Armenia. I also appreciate the steadfast support of
my colleagues and friends during my tenure as Ambassador of Armenia.
I am confident that my successor will continue and build upon the great
traditions of cooperation with the Armenian-American organizations to
promote Armenian interests in Washington, D.C.
I wish you well, and look forward to continuing our joint work toward a
better future for our Homeland Hayastan.
Dr. Arman Kirakossian
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary