Ethiopia gateway to Africa, Armenia Keen to boost cooperation: Armenian Ambassador
As Ethiopia is a gateway to Africa and Armenia is keen on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Ethiopia, Armenia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Sahak Sargsyan stated.
Speaking with ENA, Ambassador Sahak Sargsyan emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties between Armenia and Ethiopia.
“This is the only embassy we have in sub-Saharan Africa. We attach great importance to our bilateral relations with Ethiopia, which is also the host country of the African Union,” the ambassador said.
The ambassador also noted that Armenia and Ethiopia share a rich history and Christian civilizations dating back to ancient times.
“We have quite historical strong ties with Ethiopia. It dates back to ancient times. At the same time, we have about 30 years of modern diplomatic relations,” he noted.
Armenia established its embassy in Ethiopia five years ago, marking the only diplomatic mission in sub-Saharan Africa, he said.
He mentioned recent discussions with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, stating, “We discussed the areas of cooperation, the potential partnership between two sides. We agreed to discuss, to identify specific areas of cooperation in the near future.”
The ambassador also emphasized the importance of women’s rights and empowerment, noting that it is a shared priority for both governments.
Armenia is keen on collaboration with Ethiopia in establishing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) educational centers, he added.
“We are trying to work out some modalities … to collaborate together in establishing STEM educational centers, not only here in Ethiopia but also in other African countries, “he stated.
Education is a key instrument to Africa’s young population, he stressed, stating, “it is a key for any country, for any nation, any society.”
The ambassador praised Ethiopia’s efforts in transforming Addis Ababa into modern city while preserving its cultural heritage.
He specifically cited the Armenian Church in Addis Ababa as symbol of shared heritage.
“With the city administration, we are trying to work together to preserve this shared heritage to both Armenians and Ethiopians.”
The ambassador expressed optimism about Armenia-Ethiopia relations, emphasizing the potential of collaboration in various fields. “For us, Ethiopia is a gateway to the rest of Africa. We are trying to boost cooperation in multilateral formats as well,” he added.