Armenia’s UK Ambassador Arman Kirakosyan dies aged 63

Siranush Ghazanchyan July 6, 2019, 23:42

Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Arman Kirakosyan passed away today aged 63, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs.

“From the first day Arman Kerakosyan has been standing in the origins of newly-independent Armenia’s diplomatic service and foreign policy, and has made an invaluable contribution,” the Ministry said.

It offered condolences to Ambassador Kirakosyan’s family and “all those who mourn his death.”

President Armen Sarkissian also offered condolences over the demise of “an old friend” Arman Kirakosyan.

“Our family has lost a true friend and a brilliant person, the meeting with whom was always expected, pleasant and helpful,” the President said.

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(Wikipedia)

Biography

Kirakossian received his bachelor’s degree in History and Geography in 1977 and a master’s degree in History of the Armenian Question and International Diplomacy in 1980 from the Armenian State Pedagogical University. In November 1999, he earned the degree of Doctor of Sciences in History from the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

Before embarking on a diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Dr. Arman Kirakossian held several high-level academic positions at the National Academy of Sciences. He was Project Director at the Center of Scientific Information for Social Sciences from 1980 to 1986, then Senior Fellow and Associate Director of the Armenian Diaspora Studies Department from 1990 to 1991.

From 1991 to 1994, he held the post of First Deputy Foreign Minister, and, from October 1992 to February 1993, served as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. He held the diplomatic Rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1992).

From 1994 to 1999 Kirakossian was Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece. He also assumed the duties of the Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Athens. Kirakossian was also accredited to Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Kirakossian served as Armenian Ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2005. He was also Permanent Observer of the Republic of Armenia to the Organization of American States from 2001.

In 2005 he was appointed again as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Kirakossian assumed his role as Ambassador to Austria and the OSCE in 2011. From November 2018 he was appointed Ambassador to United Kingdom.

Publications

Kirakossian was an author of books and more than 120 publications. Four of his books were published in English:

British Diplomacy and the Armenian Question (Gomidas Institute, Princeton and London, 2003),
The Armenian Massacres 1894-1896: U.S. Media Testimony (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 2004),
Armenia-USA: Current Realities and Vision for Future (Yerevan State University Press, 2007),
The Armenian Massacres 1894-1896: British Media Testimony (Armenian Research Center, University of Michigan, Dearborn, 2008).

He was Professor of History and International Relations at the Yerevan State University.

Recognition

Kirakossian was decorated with:

Gold Medal of City Athens (1999),
Commemorative Medal (2001),
Medal of “John Kirakossian” (2009) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
Gold Medal of the Yerevan State University (2006),
State Medal of Mkhitar Gosh for significant services in the sphere of diplomacy.

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