Our Role
 
     
   
I. Diplomatic relations
    back to main page
Greece and Armenia established Embassy-level diplomatic relations in 1992. Armenia also has a Consulate in Athens and Greece has a Consular Office in Yerevan.
 
II. Framework of treaties
 
The main bi-lateral cooperation agreements are in the areas of culture/education, the economy, protection of investments, road and air transport, legal aid, consular issues and defence.
 
III. Political Relations
 
The relations between the two nations are excellent. These ties are based on history, culture and religion. In Greece there is a welcomed Armenian community and in Armenia there is a fully integrated Greek minority.
The political relations are very cordial and friendly. Greece is fully supporting the Armenian decision to closely approach the European Union structures. Also Greece cooperates closely with Armenia within the framework of its relationship with NATO.
Greece, together with her EU partners, supports the efforts of the Armenian government towards modernisation of the state, socio-economic development, consolidation of democratic institutions and the establishment of the rule of law. Greece staunchly supported inclusion of Armenia and the other states in the South Caucasus in the European Neighbourhood Policy (June 2004) and pursues substantial cooperation between the European Union and these countries.

Today, Armenia faces a number of challenges, both old and new. In this, Europe stands by Armenia’s side. Armenia is now actively benefiting from the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership. Negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement are progressing fast and will eventually lead to stronger political co-operation, deeper economic integration with a comprehensive free trade agreement and easier mobility through visa facilitation.  
More specifically Νegotiations between Armenia and EU, in the framework of the Eastern Partneship Agreement, are held on an EU-Armenia Association Agreement.
The negotiations on eighteen chapters have already been concluded. These chapters include the spheres of science and technologies, protection of consumer rights, audio-visual services and mass media, civil society, statistics, youth affairs, education and training, environment, company law, banking insurance and other financial services, tourism, agriculture and rural development, fisheries and maritime governance, mining, cultural cooperation, sport and physical activity.
An important process of reforms is going on in Armenia in the political, economic and social field, but also in the field of internal affairs and justice.
EU and Armenia have expressed their strong political will to start negotiations on a DCFTA Agreement (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement) as soon as the necessary conditions exist, as well as negotiations between EU and Armenia for a visa facilitation agreement in the near future. A Partnership for Reforms, has also recently set up by the European Commission and the Armenian government, which aims to strengthen democratisation, good governance, and the respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Within international and regional organisations (United Nations, OSCE, Council of Europe, BSEC), the two countries enjoy harmonious cooperation based on mutual commitment to the principles of international law (respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, peaceful resolution of conflicts), as well as the respect of United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
State visits were exchanged between Greece and Armenia through the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias in Armenia in 2007 and the President of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsian in Greece in January 2011. In her capacity as chairman of the OSCE, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs Bakoyannis visited Armenia in 2009. Visits were also exchanged between the Parliaments of the two countries through the visit of the Speaker of the Armenian Assembly Mr. Abrahamian in Greece in 2010.
The bilateral military and techno - military cooperation has started from the very first days of Independence of Armenia in 1991. It reflects the excellent political relations between the two countries. Greece is one of the most important defence partners of Armenia.
In that respect, in Kosovo an Armenian peace-keeping company, under Hellenic Armed Forces command, contributes to peace and stability in the Balkans. Also, since 1998, a significant number of Armenian army officers has received training in Greece.
 
IV.Economic and Trade relations Greek Development Aid
 
Armenia is one of the world wide most important partners of Greece in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid. For many years an important number of projects has been realized in Armenia with Greek financial and technical support in the fields of agriculture, health, education, tourism and modernization of public administration, amounting to many millions of Euros. The assistance of 2,5 million Euros through FAO, for the laboratory on food security and the construction of a slaughter house. Also the granting of half million Euros for the Armenian-Greek college on Tourism.
Trade volume is currently at low levels, approximately 50 millions US $, for the year 2008, and does not reflect the excellent political relations between the countries. Nevertheless, efforts are deployed to improve this figure.
 
V.Cultural relations
 
Cultural relations between Greece and Armenia are based on the Agreement "Between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on co-operation in the fields of Education, Science and Culture" signed on December 16,1994 and renewed in January 2011 for the period 2010-2012..
Important is also the cultural and educational bilateral cooperation. In this framework, the Greek Government offers annually about twenty Scholarships, for undergraduate or postgraduate study in Greek Universities, or for the study of Greek language. To these, the military scholarships have to be added.
Greek language is officially recognized as a minority language in Armenia and is taught at all levels of education, in schools, in the Armenian-Greek College of Tourism, the Military academy, and the Briusov State Institute of Foreign Languages. This institution has been formally accredited, this year, by the Ministry of Education and the Centre for the Greek Language as an examination centre for the Examination for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek for the whole Caucasus.
 
VI. The Greek Community
 
The Greek diaspora in Armenia is nowadays estimated at about 1.176. The numbers have dwindled due to the large wave of repatriation to Greece in 1991-1993 and over the last few years. The biggest Greek Communities in Armenia are those of Yerevan, Alaverdi, Vanatzor, Giumri, Stepanavan, Noemberian and Razdan.