The office of Honorary Consul of Canada reopened in Yerevan. The plan to open an embassy in Armenia is underway

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Canada are taking another important step on the way to deepening and raising relations to a new level. The office of the Honorary Consul of Canada was solemnly reopened in the Nork-Marash administrative district of Yerevan, while the plan to open a Canadian embassy in Armenia is underway.

ARMENPRESS informs, the opening event of the Canadian Honorary Consulate in Armenia was attended by Alison LeClaire, Canada's Ambassador to Armenia (residence: Moscow), Canada's Honorary Consul Vardges Avagyan, Head of the American Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Armen Yeganyan, the Primate of the Tavush Diocese Father Bagrat Bishop Galstanyan and other guests.

Alison LeClaire considers it symbolic that the Canadian Consulate is opened this year, when the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Canada is celebrated.

"I cannot describe in words how happy I am and how pleasant it is for me to be here. Canada has had a consulate in Armenia since 1997, the purpose of which was to provide assistance to Canadians living, studying and traveling in Armenia. In the last few years, there was a rift, and we could not have a consulate in Armenia. We have been waiting for today for a long time, and now that day has come. The opening of the consulate today would not have been possible without the cooperation and invested efforts of some people and structures. I would like to thank all the people who contributed to the opening of the consulate, and especially Armen Yeganyan, head of the Department of American Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who has also been the Ambassador of Armenia to Canada," said the Canadian Ambassador.

The Ambassador also reminded that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Mélanie Joly, recently announced about plans to open Canadian embassy in Armenia.

"This year, other positive steps are being taken for the development of relations between the two countries. As many of you know, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly recently announced that Canada will open an embassy in Armenia. In the summer of the previous year, the Canadian foreign minister at that time, Stéphane Dion, presented a report in which this proposal was also included. Many of those present here had made efforts to prepare that report," Alison LeClaire emphasized, adding that such steps are the cornerstones of the development and strengthening of bilateral relations.

Honorary Consul of Canada Vardges Avagyan thanked for being appointed to that position, stressing that he is ready to do everything within his power to develop existing cooperation in all fields.

"This is a new level of Armenian-Canadian relations. Be sure that this consulate will provide the best services to Canadian citizens in Armenia," Avagyan said.

Armen Yeganyan, head of the Department of American Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, noted that Armenian-Canadian relations have developed very dynamically in the last decade.

"As you can see, the program for the opening of the Canadian embassy in Armenia is in progress. We hope that the embassy will start operation next year. The reopening of the Office of the Honorary Consulate is also praiseworthy because it has been missing for several years, something that is very important to Canadian citizens.

As for our relations, it deepens every year. In September of this year, the first unprecedented political consultations took place in Ottawa. Despite the geographical distance, there are very warm, profound and very friendly relations between the two countries," Yeganyan emphasized.

The Canadian consulate is located on the territory of the "Maple Leafs" Armenian-Canadian medical clinic. It will provide relevant services to Canadians who live, study, work and travel in Armenia.