Armenia–Egypt relations

Armenian-Egyptian relations

Egypt	Armenia

Armenian-Egyptian relations are foreign relations between Armenia and Egypt. Egypt was one of the first countries in the Arab world which recognized the independent Armenia in 1991. In March 1992, the diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. In May 1992, the first diplomatic mission of the Republic of Armenia in the Arab East was inaugurated in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Yerevan.

Bilateral Relations

Following Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union, Egypt was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia's independence, a Convention on the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations has been signed in 1992. The Egyptian embassy in Yerevan was opened in May 1993 while the Armenian Embassy in Cairo was opened in March 1992.

The most significant point in the political relations between the two countries is the Armenian appreciation towards Egypt's neutral position with regard to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as Egypt's hosting the Armenians fleeing from massacres that took place against them, and their integration into the Egyptian society.^[1]

In the past 20 years, Armenia and Egypt have succeeded in establishing excellent political, economic, cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation. Egypt was one of the first countries in the Arab world which recognized the independence of Armenia in 1991. Armenia and Egypt signed more than 40 bilateral legal documents, dozens of high level official delegations paid mutual visits, many significant cultural and public events have been occurred, projects of economic cooperation have been worked out by joint efforts.^[2][3]

Egypt's recognition of the Armenian Genocide

Following the military coup in early July 2013 that ousted former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi who was strongly backed by Turkey's ruling AKP, tensions rose between the newly appointed government of Egypt and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government in Turkey culminating with the August clashes when Egyptian security forces raided pro-Morsi protest camps organized by the Muslim Brotherhood resulting in hundreds of fatalities.^[4] The incident resulted in both countries recalling their respective ambassadors and was met with several verbal assaults by Turkey's PM who described the event as anti-democratic and called it a "massacre" while suggesting that Egypt's leaders should be put under "fair and transparent trial".^[5][6]

In response to those condemnations, Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour announced on his Twitter account on August 17 that Egypt decided to sign the international document recognizing the Armenian Genocide:^[7][8]

“Our representatives at the United Nations will sign the international document that acknowledges the Armenian genocide, which was committed by the Turkish military, leading to the deaths of one million.”

In addition, dozens of Egyptian articles have been published condemning Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide and urging the country's new leaders to recognize it. There have also been calls to erect a memorial monument commemorating the victims of the tragedy in Cairo.^[9]

High level visits

To Armenia

Armenian-Egyptian parliamentary meeting in Cairo

To Egypt

Cultural events

• Egyptian Cultural Days were held in November 4–11 in Armenia within the framework of Armenia-Egypt cultural cooperation, intergovernmental agreement signed between the two states. In the framework of Egyptian cultural days in Yerevan 2 ballet performances of Egypt’s Opera and Ballet Theatre performed, many Egyptian films presented. Also an art exhibition presenting works of Egyptian artists has been organized.^[11][12][13]

• Armenian folk songs at El-Gumhuriya Hall, Cairo Opera House, 6 October 2011, Distinguished Artist Of Armenia Arsen Grigoryan, singer Anna Kharatyan and the Mro Ensemble gave a concert at the El-Gumhuriya Hall of Cairo Opera House within the framework of events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia.^[14]

• Armenian theme at The International Scientific Conference in Alexandria, 27 September 2011, Armenia had a special status of an honorary guest at The fourth International Symposium of History and Publishing in the Languages and Countries of the Middle East. The Symposium also celebrated the 500th anniversary of Armenian book printing and the choice of the city of Yerevan as the World Book Capital 2012 by UNESCO, by dedicating a special session on publishing in Armenia. Within the framework of the three-day scientific conference an exhibition for ancient Armenian books was held in the Library of Alexandria.^[15][16][17]

• Armenian Cultural days in Egypt, 17–22 September 2010, was jointly organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Armenian Embassy in Egypt as part of a larger bilateral initiative to foster cultural exchange between Egypt and Armenia. The series included a photo exhibit of Zaven Sargsyan, the director of Sergey Parajanov’s museum, on Armenian architecture in addition to three performances from The Armenian National Song and Dance Ensemble named after Tatoul Altounian, first in Cairo and thereafter at Damanhour’s newly restored Opera House, and the Sayed Darwish Opera House in Alexandria.^[18]

• Gayane Ballet at Cairo Opera House, 15 & 18 April 2007 Armenian National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Yerevan, presented "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian, conductor Karen Durgaryan, choreographer Hovhannes Divanyan in Cairo and Alexandria. With one show in Cairo Opera House Main Hall and another in Sayed Darwish Theatre, Alexandria, the Gayane performances celebrated the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Egypt.^[19]

See also

• Foreign relations of Armenia
• Foreign relations of Egypt
• Armenians in Egypt
• Kalousdian Armenian School
• List of Egyptian Armenians
• Arek Monthly
• Arev (daily)
• Tchahagir weekly
• Housaper daily

References

External links

• Armenian embassy in Cairo

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