Azad-Hye, Dubai, 2 October 2006: The Embassy is located in a beautiful and
spacious villa endowed with private garden in the Zamalek district, an
affluent area were most embassies are located, relatively close to downtown
Cairo. The site, originally belonged to Janik and Satenig Chaker and was
bestowed in 1976 to the local AGBU by Satenig Chaker. It was eventually
forwarded to the Armenian Foreign Ministry to serve as premises for the
Embassy at a nominal rent. The Embassy of Armenia first was in an apartment
in Dokki.
Artak Hovhannisian, a graduate of oriental studies from Yerevan, the Second
Secretary of the Embassy welcomed us in the Embassy and gave a briefing
about the location. Hovhannisian used to work in the Abu Dhabi Armenian
Embassy (2001-2003).
Araxy Khatcherian-Deronian, a friend from the Egyptian Armenian community
accompanied us in this visit.
The Embassy of Armenia in Egypt is the most important Armenian Embassy in
the Arab World due to the weight that Egypt enjoys as a leading Arab
country. The historical presence of the Armenians in Egypt, dating back to
the Middle Ages, gives additional significance to the role of the Armenian
diplomacy in this country.
Ambassador Dr. Rouben Karapetian welcomed us with a very sincere touch in
his voice.
During our meeting he said that the Embassy is engaged nowadays in an active
campaign to publicize to the Egyptian and general Arab public everything
related to Armenia.
The Ambassador had the initiative to issue a tri-monthly bulletin called
`Akhbar Armenia’ (News of Armenia) since January 2006. The bulletin is now
distributed to hundreds of important addresses all around Egypt and the Arab
World. See the first two issues of the bulletin at the end of this report.
He stressed that the Armenian diplomats should consider the Arab World and
particularly Egypt as a vital sphere for Armenian interests. Do not forget,
he added, that we have historical presence here, which we need to highlight.
This is why we organized the presentation of Sona Zeitlian’s most valuable
book `Armenians in Egypt’ and we are preparing now our own website, which
will be in Arabic and English languages.
Karapetian underlined the fact that the Egyptians highly appreciate the
Armenian community. `There are few capitals worldwide, outside Armenia,
where the Armenians have thrived and left their marks. One of these is
Cairo. We have always taken on ourselves the role of bridging and
communicating between the East and West. This has been our mission. Why we
should ignore this mission?’, he commented.
We have not recognized our potential yet in the region, the Ambassador
acknowledged. We have to highlight our role in the region as the only
Eastern Christian independent state that has so deep and comprehensive
understanding of the Arabs and Muslims, without being a colonial power in
the past.
On the other hand Ambassador Karapetian recognizes the need to educate our
own citizens on issues such as the Armenian-Arab relations.
On Armenian-Egyptian bilateral level, Karapetian refers to the visit of
Prime Minister Antranik Markarian to Egypt, which marked the beginning of a
new phase in the relations of the two friendly countries. `We are working on
a friendship agreement with Egypt, which will translate the visit into a
long-lasting commitment for both sides. Egypt is trying to achieve progress
and has done remarkable efforts and needs to find partners in economic
development, especially in our region’, he explained.
About other activities in the horizon, Karapetian mentioned the plan of
erecting a friendship statue in a main square in Cairo (and a similar one in
Yerevan).
With the most sincere manners, Karapetian acknowledged the need to clarify
relations with Diaspora, especially in light of the Armenia-Diaspora
conference. `We need to clarify our mutual concerns. We need to talk
transparently about our issues. We have to point out clearly what we should
do and take lessons from the past. We should not pacify ourselves by saying
everything is brilliant. This is not the way to progress. Nothing comes
easily. The system should develop gradually. After 15 years of independence
we can now talk about Armenian diplomacy. All the previous years were years
of formation. The coming presidential elections in Armenia (2008) should
have great meaning for us as a factor of stability and progress. We need the
input of our politically matured population. We have to develop further
democracy. Overall progress is needed in the economic and educational
spheres, without which nothing could be achieved. Rural areas should be
developed. Armenia cannot be concentrated only around the capital Yerevan’.
These were some of the challenges the Ambassador mentioned at the end of the
conversation.
Bulletin of the Embassy in Arabic language:
Issue no. 1 of `Akhbar Armenia’ (News of Armenia)
Issue no. 2 of `Akhbar Armenia’ (News of Armenia)
Download bulletins from the following page:
wsId=621sff41
Photos:
1- Ambassador Dr. Rouben Karapetian in front of the Embassy building.
2- Artak Hovhannisian, Second Secretary of the Embassy.
3- The Building of the Embassy (historically Chakrian family’s property).
4- The Egyptian guard in front of the Embassy.
See photos at the following link:
wsId=621sff41
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress