Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Uruguay Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Rodolfo Nin Novoa participated today in the opening of the Consulate General of Uruguay in Yerevan, as reported the news service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

Minister Mnatsakanyan delivered his welcoming remarks, which read as follows:

“Today marks a special event in the relations between Armenia and Uruguay — it is the day of the opening of the Consulate General of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay in Armenia. I congratulate all of us on this occasion and would like to wish a successful and effective mission to newly appointed Consul General Eduardo Rosenbrock. I would also like to express my gratitude to Ambassador of Uruguay to Armenia, Mr. Carlos Zgarbi and to Ambassador of Armenia to Uruguay, Mrs. Estera Mkrtumyan.

Eduardo, I assure you that you will enjoy the full support of the authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, and I am certain that you will make your contribution to the strengthening of the friendly relations between Armenia and Uruguay.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both Armenia and Uruguay have taken a rather long journey, and there have been many events during that journey. However, it would be wrong to say that our friendship was established just two-and-a-half decades ago. It has deeper roots and goes back to the times when the first survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 set foot on the land of the distant, yet hospitable country of Uruguay and rediscovered a new opportunity to live a safe and dignified life. There was no other way in a country that is hinged on the great ideas of great democrat and humanist, national hero of Uruguay José Jervasio Artigas.

It is no secret for anyone that every Armenian is very emotional about Uruguay as a country that laid the foundation for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 1965. I also had the opportunity to share with Rodolfo the significance of Uruguay’s recognition during the Soviet Union in terms of raising the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I must also gratefully mention the support that Uruguay has shown to Armenia’s efforts aimed at implementing mechanisms for the prevention of genocides in the world.

Getting back to the interstate relations, I must state that, over the past quarter of a century, we have managed to establish mutually beneficial cooperation and close partnership that are hinged on a common value system and the same principles of democracy.

There are several prospects for cooperation in industry, agriculture, information and high technologies, healthcare and other sectors.

I would especially like to touch upon our cooperation in the humanities (science, education, culture, sport and tourism). During this visit, we discussed rather pretentious programs in other sectors as well.

I must also recall the major role that the Armenians of Uruguay play in our relations.

Rodolfo already stated that Uruguay is the homeland of 20,000 Armenians, and this is not just a figure. They are honest, diligent and dedicated citizens of Uruguay who fully contribute to the development of our fraternal Uruguay and preserve their national identity.

My counterpart brought up the examples of Minister Liliam Kechichian and university rector Roberto Markarian. There is another Uruguayan-Armenian who plays a major role in our cooperation in the sport sector, and he is Roberto Markarian’s brother, Sergio Markarian, who is a world famous football coach.

The Armenian community has been and remains a major bridge for strengthening and deepening the relations and friendship between our two peoples, and I am deeply grateful to the community.

In closing, dear Rodolfo, once again, I would like to express gratitude for the opening of the Consulate General of Uruguay. I would like to congratulate all of us and my good friends, the representatives of Armenia’s diplomatic corps.

Distinguished Mr. Minister, I wish you a safe return to your homeland. We have already planned our next steps that will be aimed at deepening the relations between our two peoples and countries.”