Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Armenia)

The activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are aimed at: • strengthening of foreign security of Armenia, • maintaining favorable external conditions for the development of Armenia, • representing Armenian positions in the international area, • protecting the interests of Armenia and its citizens abroad, • deepening of involvement within international organizations and international processes, • further enhancement of cooperation with friendly and partner countries, • normalization of relations with those countries with which there are problems, • further development and deepening of ties with Armenian communities abroad, • international recognition of the Armenian genocide and the Republic of Artsakh, • establishment of stability, cooperation, security and peace in the Caucasus region. == History ==

Early Armenian diplomatic history In 1918, in parallel with the restoration of Armenia's statehood, Armenia gained international recognition and established diplomatic ties with several other states. Armenia established diplomatic relations with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, and other countries. Plenipotentiary representatives were appointed to the United States, Bulgaria, Finland, Switzerland, Japan, among other countries. Meanwhile, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran opened diplomatic representations in Yerevan. Soviet era After the establishment of Soviet rule in December 1920, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic was founded. After the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (TSFSR) was founded in July 1922, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs (PCFA) of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (Armenian SSR) was eliminated, taking into consideration the fact that the general management of TSFSR member states’ foreign policy was carried out by the TSFSR Council. In addition, national foreign policy was determined by the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. In the final years of the Second World War, the Soviet leadership decided to expand the foreign policy functions of the Union republics. To prepare the necessary personnel, the Faculty of International Relations was established at the Yerevan State University (functioning from 1945 to 1952). A special body was created within the MFA to coordinate cooperation with the Armenian Diaspora at the state level, on the basis of which the Ministry of Diaspora was established in October 2008. The first assignment of diplomatic ranks was held in July 1992. Since 1996, the MFA of Armenia has been located at the Republic Square in Government House #2 (which was built in 1955 by architect Samvel Safarian). Between 1991 and 1996, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was located currently where the Constitutional Court is located. The Foreign Ministry has its own awards, with the Commemorative Medal of the Ministry being instituted in 2002, and in 2009, the Medal “80 years of John Kirakosyan” was created. == Structure ==

Press service Press secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1991: • Garnik Badalyan (1991–1992) • Aram Safaryan (1993–1996) • Arsen Gasparyan (1997–1999) • Ara Papyan (1999–2000) • Dzyunik Aghajanyan (2000–2003) • Hamlet Gasparyan (2003–2006) • Vladimir Karapetyan (2006–2008) • Tigran Balayan (2008–2018) • Anna Naghdalyan (since 2018) Protocol service As the first department of the MFA in 1991, the Armenian State Protocol Service within the MFA was established in 1998, and later on, in 2002 was succeeded by the MFA “State Protocol Service” Agency, with the status of a separated subdivision of the Ministry. In the making of State Protocol great significance is given to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia of March 16, 2002, which approved the “Basic Principles of the State Protocol of the Republic of Armenia. It is divided into the Diplomatic Missions Division, the Diplomatic Corps Division and the Official Visits Division. Diplomatic school Since 2010, a Diplomatic school operates within the MFA of the Republic of Armenia offices. == Diplomatic relations ==

: Armenia has established diplomatic relations with 178 countries (as of November 2020). Armenia became a member of the United Nations in 1992, and is currently a member of over 70 international organizations including the OSCE, CIS, CSTO, Council of Europe, EAEU, La Francophonie, and the BSEC. Diplomatic representations Since independence, Armenia has opened embassies and consulates in many countries, while permanent missions have been established to a number of international organizations. As of November 2020, there are 43 embassies, 10 consulate-generals, 4 consulates and consular agencies, 40 honorary consulates, and over 20 Permanent Missions accredited to various international organizations. == List of ministers ==

=== First Armenian Republic === • Alexander Khatisian (1918, 1919–1920) • Hovhannes Kajaznuni (1918) • Sirakan Tigranyan (1918–1919) • Hamo Ohanjanian (1920) • Simon Vratsian (1920) Armenian SSR • Alexander Bekzadian (1920–1921) • Askanaz Mravyan (1921–1922) • Sahak Karapetyan (1944–1946) • Gevorg (Kimik) Hovhannisian (1947–1954) • Anton Kochinyan (1954–1958) • Balabek Martirosian (1958–1972) • Kamo Udumian (1972–1975) • John Kirakosyan (1975–1985) • Anatoly Mkrtichian (1986–1991) Republic of Armenia • Raffi Hovannisian (1991–1992) • Arman Kirakossian (Acting Minister – 1992–1993) • Vahan Papazian (1993–1996) • Alexander Arzoumanian (1996–1998) • Vartan Oskanian (1998–2008) • Eduard Nalbandyan (2008–2018) • Zohrab Mnatsakanyan (2018–2020) • Ara Ayvazyan (2020–2021) • Armen Grigoryan (Acting Minister – 2021) • Ararat Mirzoyan (2021–present) == See also ==