Armenia celebrates 30th anniversary of Independence

Armenia and Armenians have long historical ties with Egypt. Throughout history, the two nations met at several crossroads. Today, a vibrant Armenian community contributes actively to the strengthening of this historic friendship and co-operation between Armenia and Egypt.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1992, we have witnessed a dynamic development of co-operation in different spheres, including political dialogue, economy, culture, education and tourism. Dozens of treaties, agreements and protocols have been signed; many high-level official delegations paid mutual visits, a large number of significant cultural and public events have been organised. Now, we are looking forward to expanding the already existing co-operation with Egypt.

We believe that the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Egypt will create new opportunities for further strengthening trade and economic relations between Armenia and Egypt as Armenia is a founding member state of that organisation.

With great interest and pleasure, we are following the substantial progress of Egypt in all spheres during recent years. Armenia wishes success to the Egyptian government in accomplishing all ambitious projects aimed at building a more prosperous and more secure future in accordance with the aspirations of the Egyptian people, as well as the consistent efforts of the Egyptian government towards combatting terrorism and restoring stability in the country.

For six centuries, Armenians whose history and cultural heritage go back for millennia were deprived of their own statehood due to continuous invasions of foreign conquerors. Following the nightmare of the atrocities of WWI and the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, the First Republic of Armenia emerged as an independent and sovereign state in 1918. However, barely two and half years later, it found itself incorporated into the Soviet Union as one of its Republics. The aspirations of generations for independence finally became a reality at the collapse of the Soviet Empire with the emergence of the Third Republic of Armenia.

During the last thirty years, Armenia has made significant progress in the process of state-building. The constitutional amendments of 2015 changed the political structure from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary republic. Armenia has developed strong institutions of legislative, executive and judicial branches of power, which are marked by continuity and a high degree of proficiency. Over recent years our country has made massive progress in combatting corruption and strengthening the rule of law.

It is recognised that the supreme value and, at the same time, the most valuable resource of Armenia is its people. That is why the implementation of current government programmes are aimed at the further elaboration of legal, social, educational and infrastructural conditions to promote human development. The transition to the parliamentary republic has increased the significance and the role of the people’s will in the main legislative body of the country, and therefore – in politics. According to the unanimous assessment of the international observation missions, the parliamentary elections of 2021 were competitive, fundamental rights and freedoms were respected, the elections were free, the opportunities for campaigning were equal, the principle of equal coverage was ensured, the elections were in line with the principles of democracy.

In order to ensure sustainable economic growth and increase economic competitiveness, the development of a knowledge-and high-technology-based economy has been declared as a core long-term strategic objective. Lacking hydrocarbon reserves, Armenia places a high emphasis on the development of nuclear and renewable energy. The economic policy shall continue to focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring free competition driven by market forces, shrinking the shadow economy,

continually improving the business environment, promoting exports, diversifying economic sectors, and increasing their productivity and technological capacity.

The Government has declared an “open door” policy, securing equal conditions for all domestic and foreign investors. To attract efficient foreign investments, it is systematically improving the business environment, creating free economic zones, developing human capital. Armenia steadily improves its economic performance and strengthens its industrial base, despite the permanent blockade imposed by two of its neighbours – Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The lasting peace and stability in our region depend on fair and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which started when at the threshold of the collapse of the Soviet Union Azerbaijan tried, by ethnic cleansings and then unleashing a large-scale war, to suppress the people of Artsakh (an Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh) for exercising their legal right of self-determination. In 1994, a trilateral ceasefire agreement was signed by the Republic of Artsakh, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. Next year, in 1995, the OSCE Minsk group headed by three co-chairs (Russia, the US, France) was established being and still remaining the only internationally recognised format to deal with the conflict. Unfortunately, for two decades, Azerbaijan was continuously undermining the OSCE Minsk Group mediators’ efforts by rejecting all proposals on the settlement, including confidence-building measures and the consolidation of the ceasefire. Instead, it was constantly increasing military build-up,

systematically provoking violations of the ceasefire and instilling anti-Armenian hysteria into its own society.

In 2020, Azerbaijan being backed by unconditional political and military support of Turkey unleashed a new war against the Republic of Artsakh, trying to resolve the conflict by the use of force. During the large-scale military aggression, an enormous number of violations of international humanitarian law and breaches of international human rights law were committed by the Republic of Azerbaijan and its military forces. Now, the protection of a number of Armenian cultural and religious monuments, which are being systematically destroyed under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, is extremely urgent.

In the aftermath of the war, units of the Azerbaijani armed forces infiltrated into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, which is another blatant violation of international law. Maintaining peace and stability in the region, as well as unconditional unblocking of economic and transport ties is a long-term strategy of Armenia, and we are willing to hold active negotiations around that agenda. However, Azerbaijan’s failure to implement its commitments assumed by the trilateral statement which ended the second war, as well as the groundless territorial claims against Armenia, the continuous aggressive rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities do not contribute neither to a lasting and sustainable peace in the region, nor to the unblocking of economic and transport ties.

Armenia’s position matches the position of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, according to which the issue of the political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains open. We presume that the settlement of the issue, which will establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus, can be achieved only through negotiations. And such a solution should be based, first of all, on the issues of the status and territories of Nagorno-Karabakh.

On April 24, multiple countries commemorated the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, which claimed as many as 1,5 million innocent lives. Over 30 states, along with many international organisations, provincial governments and city councils, have acknowledged and condemned that first Genocide of the 20th century. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the two Houses of the US Congress in 2019 and the US President in 2021 is an extremely important decision and has significantly changed the situation over the process of international recognition.

However, Armenians together with the entire international community for more than 100 years, have been waiting for Turkey to recognise the Genocide. The Turkish leaders vigorously continued their policy of denial and kept the border with Armenia sealed. The denial of the Genocide along with the atmosphere of impunity, pave the way for the repetition of new crimes against humanity, and the war against the Republic of Artsakh in 2020 with the direct and active participation of Turkey is a vivid example of that.

Talking about the Armenian Genocide, we should express our gratitude to all the countries and peoples who granted asylum to those of our compatriots who could escape from the Genocide. Thousands found a second home here – in the magnificent and hospitable land of Egypt and being embraced by the care of their brothers and sisters, they became devoted citizens of this country and significantly contributed to its public and cultural life.

The Republic of
Armenia: Overview

The Republic of Armenia is situated in the western part of Asia, occupies the north-eastern part of the Armenian plateau. The area is 29,743 sq.km, population – 3 million. Around 98 per cent of the population are Armenians. Yezidis, Russians, Assyrians, Ukrainians, Kurds, and Greeks are also a part of Armenian society.

The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social state governed by the rule of law. In the Republic of Armenia, the power belongs to the people and the people exercise their power through free elections, referenda, as well as through state and local self-government bodies and officials provided for by the Constitution.

The constitution of the Republic of Armenia was adopted by a national referendum on July 5, 1995 and it was amended twice in 2005 and 2015. The President of the Republic is the head of the State who observes the compliance with the Constitution. The President is elected by the National Assembly for a seven-year term, and since 2018 Mr Armen Sarkissian serves as the 4th President of Armenia.

The government is the supreme body of the executive power. The government, based on its programme, develops and implements the domestic and foreign policies of the state, exercises general management of the bodies of the state administration system. The government is composed of the prime minister, deputy prime ministers and ministers. The candidate elected by the parliamentary majority is appointed by the President of the Republic as a Prime Minister. Since 2018, Mr Nikol Pashinyan has served as Armenia’s 16th Prime Minister.

The National Assembly/Parliament is the representative body of the people, which implements the legislative power. The current convocation of the National Assembly consists of 107 MPs/Deputies as a result of the 2021 parliamentary elections.

In Armenia, justice is administered only by courts in compliance with the Constitution and laws. The Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation, courts of appeal, courts of first instance of general jurisdiction, as well as the Administrative Court operate in the Republic of Armenia. Constitutional justice is administered by the Constitutional Court, ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution. In the Republic of Armenia, the supreme court instance is the Court of Cassation, except for the field of constitutional justice. The Court of Cassation, by way of revision of judicial acts within the scope of powers prescribed by law, ensures the uniform application of laws and other regulatory legal acts, as well as eliminates the fundamental violations of human rights and freedoms. Independence of courts and judges is guaranteed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is an independent state body comprised of ten members. Five members of the Supreme Judicial Council shall be elected by the General Assembly of Judges, another five members – by the National Assembly.

The administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Armenia are the marzes [regions] and the communities. The marzes are comprised of rural and urban communities. The territory of Armenia is divided into 10 marzes. They are: Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Lori, Kotayk, Shirak, Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Tavush. Capital Yerevan is a community. Local self-governance is exercised in communities.

There are more than 7 million Armenians living abroad, across the globe, consisting the Armenian Diaspora. It was founded throughout the centuries as a result of the loss of Armenian statehood and the establishment of foreign powers, the massacres of Armenians and the Genocide of 1915. Today, there are Armenian communities in more than 100 countries all over the world, and the majority of Armenians are living in the Russian Federation, the USA, France, Georgia, Syria, Lebanon, Argentina, Canada, Iran, as well as Egypt and some other countries.