Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan was hosted at the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU).

The prospects for expansion of Armenian-Greek cooperation in education, science and culture, as well as opportunities for the development of partnering ties, the implementation of joint programs and the deepening of academic cooperation were discussed during the meeting with ASPU Acting Rector Lilit Mkrtchyan.

Afterwards, the Ambassador delivered an open lecture for the University’s students and professors.

Tigran Mkrtchyan touched upon the historical foundations of the Armenian-Greek relations, the civilizational commonalities of the two peoples, Armenia’s historic role and the strategic partnership established between the two countries. “It has already been nearly three decades since the establishment of cooperation between Armenia and Greece, and the cooperation became of strategic importance in the defense sector especially in these past years. The cooperation is not limited to only defense, but encompasses also military education and the training of the armed forces which have an essential role in the development of capabilities,” the Ambassador noted.

He also shared the priorities of the embassy’s activities, emphasizing the fact that education and culture have a special place in the Armenian-Greek cooperation agenda.

The Ambassador attached importance to the significance of cultural diplomacy, viewing it as a key precondition for mutual understanding, trust and the strengthening of cooperation between the peoples. He went on to talk about the initiatives underway in the education sector, the activities of Centers for Armenian Studies, the expansion of academic relations, as well as the importance of the profession of historian, emphasizing that in-depth knowledge of history is one of the major foundations for the professional development of every diplomat.

The students and professors addressed the Ambassador with their questions of interest.

Talking about the profession of diplomat, Tigran Mkrtchyan noted that modern technological advancements have changed the instrumentation of work, but have not replaced the mission of a diplomat. “Today people often express the opinion that the profession of diplomat is no longer current in the information era. This is a wrong notion. Technologies change the forms and tools of work, but they can’t replace man. Diplomacy is first and foremost human interaction, the ability to understand the history, culture and mindset of the particular country, the art of preventing discrepancies, establishing cooperation and building confidence. Armenia has to have high-class diplomatic service, and the profession of diplomat requires knowledge, consistency, patience and responsibility,” he emphasized.

Tigran Mkrtchyan also provided information about his professional career, talked about the characteristics of diplomatic service and shared interesting details, noting that he served in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia between 2016 and 2021.

The Ambassador advised the youth to deeply study history, have command of foreign languages and never stop learning. According to him, the educational process never ends, and self-education is the most important precondition for the professional and personal development of every individual. “Self-education is one of the most important assets, and each person must first and foremost be his own harshest critic. Only if each of us is guided by the principle of continuing to learn, grow and bear responsibility will we be able to have a strong country and well-established society. It all starts from school, but education is part of a person’s entire life,” the Ambassador remarked.

ASPU Acting Rector Lilit Mkrtchyan attached importance to the meeting, noting that it provided students with the opportunity to have a better understanding of the characteristics of diplomatic service, become familiar with Armenia’s foreign policy priorities and the current developments in international relations.