On 4 April, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is on an official visit to Addis Ababa, had a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community of Ethiopia.

Expressing gratitude for the cordial reception, Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted the importance of the Armenian community in the public and political life of Ethiopia and the role that it plays as a bridge in the relations between Armenia and Ethiopia. Armenia’s foreign minister highly appreciated the role that the small, yet active community plays in preserving the Armenian identity.

“Throughout the visit, we felt how deeply Ethiopians respect Armenians. We Armenians are a nation that has always been able to stand firmly and create a wealth for itself and its communities, and you are proof of this. We are more than determined to bridge our countries. You are the first ambassadors of Armenia in Ethiopia, and once again, I express my gratitude to you.”

Armenia’s foreign minister drew the Ethiopian-Armenian community’s attention to the country’s foreign policy priorities and the government’s development program that aims to promote an economy hinged on the enhancement of innovation, high technologies and creative education.

Touching upon Armenia’s foreign policy priorities, the foreign minister presented Armenia’s approaches to and fundamental position on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Before the meeting with the Ethiopian-Armenian community, Armenia’s foreign minister had visited the St. Gevorg Armenian Apostolic Church in Addis Ababa.