Foreign relations of Armenia

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Armenia This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Armenia Constitution National Assembly President of Armenia Robert Kocharian Prime Minister (vacant) Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan Political parties Elections: 2007 Administrative divisions Foreign relations Human rights See also: Politics of Nagorno Karabakh Other countries · Politics Portal view • talk • edit

This article is part of the series Foreign relations of Armenia Foreign policy The Arab world The Assyrians Azerbaijan The Baltic states Belgium Bulgaria France Georgia Germany Greece Iran Israel Italy The Kurds Poland Russia Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom United States Armenian diaspora See also: Politics of Armenia edit Politics Portal

Armenia's foreign relationships vary from strong (with countries like Russia or Lebanon) to bitter (with countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan). Armenia is a member of more than 45 different international organizations including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO's Partnership for Peace, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Trade Organization. It is also an observer member of the Eurasian Economic Community, La Francophonie, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Contents 1 International organization participation 2 Countries with Diplomatic Relations 3 Southern Caucasus 3.1 Azerbaijan 3.2 Georgia 4 Middle East 4.1 Iran 4.2 Israel 4.3 Lebanon 4.4 Syria 5 Europe 5.1 Russia 5.2 Greece 5.3 France 5.4 Belgium 5.5 Germany 5.6 The United Kingdom 5.7 Italy 5.8 Poland 5.9 Romania 5.10 Hungary 5.11 Czech Republic 5.12 Ukraine 5.13 Switzerland 5.14 Vatican City 6 The Americas 6.1 The United States 6.2 Canada 6.3 South America 7 Asia 7.1 Turkey 7.2 Central Asia 7.3 China 7.4 Japan 7.5 India 7.6 Pakistan 8 Other foreign relations 8.1 Africa (Ethiopia and Rwanda) 8.2 Oceania (Australia) 9 Armenian Genocide Recognition 10 References 10.1 Footnotes 11 See also

[edit] International organization participation

ACCT (observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, Council of Europe, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, La Francophonie (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO.

[edit] Countries with Diplomatic Relations

Armenia has currently diplomatic relations with over 75 countries.[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. [8] These include: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, the People's Republic of China, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Netherlands, Order of Malta, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City and Vietnam.

[edit] Southern Caucasus

Armenia has had a continuous presence in the Southern Caucasus. Its neighbors, Azerbaijan and Georgia share the same presence. Though historically and traditionally Armenia was the largest of the three Caucasian states, today it is the smallest. Nevertheless, relations with its neighbors remain an important factor for the Caucasus region.

[edit] Azerbaijan

Armenia and its neighboring state, Azerbaijan have historical relations extending all the way back to antiquity. A neighboring republic of a much greater Armenia, Azerbaijan was a country known as Caucasian Albania. This state had strong religious (the ancient Albanians were Christians), cultural, and linguistic ties with Armenia. However, after numerous invasions by Arabs, Seljuks, and Persians, the indigenous peoples converted to Islam. They also borrowed other culture aspects of the peoples that invaded them. Like Persians, today's modern Azeris follow the Shi'a sect of Islam and the names of the Azeri provinces as well as the name "Azerbaijan" have Persian roots. Linguistically, however, their language known as Azeri is more close to that of Turkish. The flag of Azerbaijan as well has some Turkish symbolism; for instance, the eight-pointed star represents the eight Turkic tribes while the stripe of white blue represents their cultural identity to the Turks.

When both Armenia and Azerbaijan became absorbed into the Soviet Union, both ethnic groups were able to rekindle their ancient friendships. According to British journalist, Thomas de Waal, many Armenians and Azeris lived together peacefully. However, when Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the policies of Glasnost and Perestroika, the majority Armenians from the autonomous area of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Azerbaijan SSR began to push for reunification. In 1988, the Armenians of Karabakh voted to secede and join Armenia. This secession eventually developed into a full-scale armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "As a result, many very good friendships were blown apart by the conflict," said de Waal in an interview with the Armenian Reporter, "including, bizarrely enough, a man who used to work in the Komsomol in Shusha [Shushi] who's now in exile in Baku. He used to be a friend of Serzh Sargsyan and [current Armenian President] Robert Kocharian and had fond memories of both. He even produced a photograph taken with Robert Kocharian sitting at a cafe in Yalta in 1986, and he wasn't bluffing either. After an interview with Serzh Sargsyan, I mentioned his name, and he had fond memories too. Even on that level there were friendships." ^[1]

However, the conflict continued to escalate and by the time both republics became independent, they plunged into the bloody Nagorno-Karabakh War. A Russian-brokered cease-fire was declared between Azeri and Nagorno-Karabakh forces in 1994 and has been maintained by both sides since then in spite of occasional disturbances along the line of contact between the two. Negotiations to peacefully resolve the conflict have been ongoing since 1992 under the aegis of the Minsk Group of the OSCE. The Minsk Group is currently co-chaired by the U.S., France, and Russia and comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the U.S., and several western European nations. The talks have focused on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the return of refugees, the lifting of blockades, the withdrawal from occupied territories, and the status of the Lachin corridor, which connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

Karabakh Armenians, supported by the Republic of Armenia, now hold about 14% of Azerbaijan and have refused to withdraw from occupied territories until an agreement on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is reached. On its turn, Azerbaijan still controls the formerly Armenian-populated and now ethnically cleansed Shahumian district, as well as eastern parts of Mardakert and Martuni districts of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to observe the cease-fire which has been in effect since May 1994, and in late 1995 both also agreed to OSCE field representatives being based in Tbilisi, Georgia, to monitor the cease-fire and facilitate the peace process.

[edit] Georgia

Armenia has historic ties with Georgia, another ancient country in the Southern Caucasus that was able to retain its Christian identity. Relations with Georgia are of particular importance for Armenia because, under the economic blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan due to the Karabakh conflict, Georgia offers Armenia its only land connection with Europe and access to its Black Sea ports. However, because of Armenia's reliance on Russia from whose grip Georgia is attempting to free itself, relations have been tentative. The development of close relations between Turkey and Georgia (such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Caucasus natural gas pipeline) have also weighed on the mutual relations and lead to the prevention of the country recognizing the Armenian Genocide. On occasion, however, Georgian politicians have sympathized with the Armenian cause. For example, on March 20, 2006, Georgian Ambassador to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze stated, "We sympathize with the sister nation but taking decisions of the kind we should take into account the international situation. When the time comes Georgia will do everything within the limits of the possible for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the international community including Georgia." ^[2] However, Armenian-Georgian relations have begun to improve. On May 10, 2006, Armenia and Georgia agreed on the greater part of the lines of the state border between the two countries. ^[3]. The Javakheti region in southern Georgia contains a large Armenian population and although there have been local civic organizations (such as United Javakhk) pushing for autonomy, there has been no violence between Armenians and Georgians in the area despite Russian efforts to use the situation. ^[4]

[edit] Middle East

As with the Southern Caucasus, Armenians have always had a consistent presence in the Middle East. Under the rule of Tigranes the Great the Armenian Kingdom, extended its rule from the Caucasus and Asia Minor over to parts of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Israel. Later most of historic Armenia (present-day eastern Turkey) was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Although relations remain tense with Turkey, Armenia has developed strong relationships with Lebanon and Israel and friendly relationships with Iran, Syria, and Egypt.

[edit] Iran

Despite religious and ideological differences, relations between Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran remain relatively cordial and both Armenia and Iran are strategic partners in the region. Armenia and Iran enjoy cultural and historical ties that go back thousands of years. There are no border disputes between the two countries and the Christian Armenian minority in Iran enjoys official recognition. Of special importance is the cooperation in the field of energy security which lowers Armenia's dependence on Russia and can in the future also supply Iranian gas to Europe through Georgia and the Black Sea.

[edit] Israel

Main article: History of the Jews in Armenia

Armenia and Israel have strong and historic relations, that latter of which has a substantial and historic Armenian community located in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem.

Since independence, Armenia has received support from Israel and today remains one of their major trade partners. While both countries have diplomatic relations, neither maintains an embassy in the other country. Instead, Ehude Moshe Eytam, the Israeli ambassador to Armenia is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and visits Yerevan twice a month. ^[5]

Israel has recognized 10 Armenians as Righteous Among the Nations for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. However, because Turkey is one of the few countries in the Middle East that recognizes Israel's right to exist, Israel has yet to recognize the Armenian Genocide, despite calls by Israeli politicians, Rabbis, and Israel's Armenian population to do so. The lack of recognition has brought some stirrings of Anti-Semitism to Armenia, which were virtually non-existent before. ^[6]

Still, there have been several high-level official visits to Israel by Armenians in the last several years. In January 2000, President Robert Kocharian traveled to Israel and met with high-ranking Israeli officials, including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The two sides pledged to strengthen relations and signed agreements on health and bilateral investment. ^[7]

[edit] Lebanon

[edit] Syria

[edit] Europe

Although geographically considered part of Asia, Armenia has always been under the cultural sphere of Europe. Since independence and the Karabakh war, Armenia's two closest European allies have been Russia and Greece. France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have also developed favorable relations with Armenia. Although the predominate faith of the Armenians is the Armenian Apostolic Church, it maintains close ties with the Vatican as well. The United Kingdom also has strong ties with Armenia, although it has not officially recognized the Armenian Genocide as a whole.

[edit] Russia

[edit] Greece

Main article: Greco-Armenian relations

Armenia and Greece share a strong historical and cultural bond. Both peoples fell under Ottoman rule, oppression, and persecution. Furthermore, the ancient Kingdom of Armenia exemplied the ideal Hellenistic civilization during its existence. During the Nagorno-Karabakh War, Greece did not aid Armenia militarily but supplied them with economic resources that would prove to be vital to the war effort.

[edit] France

Main article: Armenian-French relations

[edit] Belgium

[edit] Germany

[edit] The United Kingdom

[edit] Italy

[edit] Poland

[edit] Romania

[edit] Hungary

[edit] Czech Republic

[edit] Ukraine

[edit] Switzerland

[edit] Vatican City

[edit] The Americas

The Armenian diaspora is a main factor in helping Armenia maintain ties with its allies on the American continent, in particular, in the United States and Canada. Armenia also has a strong influence in South America where significant communities exist in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The latter was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965.

[edit] The United States

[edit] Canada

[edit] South America

[edit] Asia

[edit] Turkey

Main article: Armenian-Turkish relations

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia's independence in 1991. Despite this, for most of the 20th century and early 21st century, relations between the two countries remain tense for many reasons. Some bones of contention include the unresolved Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan (which has resulted in Turkey imposing a blockade on Armenia that is still in effect today), the treatment of Armenians in Turkey, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway. At the forefront of all disputes, however, is the Armenian Genocide issue. The killing and deportation of some hundreds of thousands or over a million Armenians from eastern Anatolian lands of the Ottoman Empire orchestrated by the Young Turks is a taboo subject in Turkey itself as the Turkish government refuses to acknowledge that a genocide ever happened. However, since Turkey has become a candidate to join the European Union, limited discussion of the event is now taking place in Turkey. Some in the European Parliament even suggest that one of the provisions for Turkey to join the E.U. should be the full recognition of the event as genocide, though this has yet to happen.

Recently, however, relations have begun to ease and both Turkey and Armenia seem to be willing to settle their differences through peaceful talks. On June 5, 2005, Armenian President Robert Kocharian announced that he was ready to "continue dialogue with Azerbaijan for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and with Turkey on establishing relations without any preconditions." ^[8]

[edit] Central Asia

Despite that fact that the former Soviet states of Central Asia are predominantly Turkic and Islamic in character (a trait that one would assume would lead to rocky relations with Armenia from the start because of their already tense relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan), Armenia has opened up to this region of the world and is determined to begin the foundation for mutually beneficial relationships. In March 2002, Robert Kocharian began negotiations with then-President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan. Despite the fact that, according to international observers, Niyazov's regime was anything but democratic, Turkmenistan is still rich in natural resources, the very thing that Armenia needs in order to help re-stimulate its economy. A tentative was finally settled between both leaders under which Armenia would purchase two billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas annually. The gas would, of course, be shipped through Iran, to ensure the safest possible route. In December 2002, an "assets-for-debt" agreement allowed Armenia to to settle an $11 million debt with Turkmenistan in exchange for Armenian-manufactured goods including machines, chemicals, and military products.

Additionally, Armenia also shares strong relations with the largest of the Central Asian states, Kazakhstan, another ally in the region with plenty of natural resources as well as strong relations with Russia. Both countries share a mutual interest in the development and strengthening of their economic relations, as promoted by the Armenian-Kazakh Inter-Governmental Commission. One of the founding members of the OSCE, Kazakhstan has tried, although unsuccessfully to mediate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the 1990s.

Tajikistan is another country for which Armenia is striving to develop strongs relations with. The Tajiks are the only people in post-Soviet Central Asia who are not ethnically Turkic or Turkic-speaking. They are, like the Armenians themselves, Indo-European and are more close linguistically to Iran, another strategic ally of Armenia. In April 2002, Robert Kocharian paid an official visit to Tajikistan which concluded with four bilateral agreements including one on Friendship and Cooperation.

[edit] China

[edit] Japan

[edit] India

[edit] Pakistan

[edit] Other foreign relations

[edit] Africa (Ethiopia and Rwanda)

[edit] Oceania (Australia)

[edit] Armenian Genocide Recognition

Main article: Armenian Genocide

Armenia has been joined by many nations, in demanding recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Countries that officially recognize the Armenian genocide include Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela. Although part of the United Kingdom, Wales also officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide. US House Bill # H.RES.106 was introduced on January 30, 2007 later referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The bill currently has 176 co-sponsors^[9]. The bill calls for President George W. Bush to recognize and use the word genocide in his annual April 24 speech.

[edit] References

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
• This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] See also

• Armenian Genocide
• Armenian diplomatic missions
• Foreign relations of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
• Accession of Turkey to the European Union
• Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline