Whose Efforts Led Canada to Decide to Open an Embassy in Armenia? An International Expert Comments

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced yesterday on her Twitter account that Canada is opening an embassy in Armenia. In an interview with ArmDaily.am, international expert Suren Sargsyan commented on the announcement made by the head of Canada’s foreign affairs. He noted, “The discussions about opening a Canadian embassy in Armenia have been ongoing since the very early 1990s, but various reasons have prevented this from happening, particularly due to Canada’s lack of economic presence in Armenia and a certain passivity regarding political interests. Armenia has always worked towards having a Canadian embassy in our country, considering the need to deepen bilateral relations. There was an opinion that the presence of an embassy would positively affect the development of relations.”

Sargsyan stated that Canadian authorities have periodically promised the Armenian community in Canada such developments, so we should hope that this time the process will be completed, and the country will have an embassy in Armenia. “Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, among the largest economies, and a member of the G7, so naturally, it is crucial for Armenia to deepen relations with such a powerful country, especially in economic and business sectors,” Sargsyan emphasized.

Commenting on Canadian Foreign Minister Joly’s claim that her country’s decision will be an important guarantee of increased support for Armenian democracy, he remarked, “I believe this process has been brewing for a long time, and we should not forget that Mélanie Joly is known for her pro-Armenian stance. Previously, when she was the Minister for Integration, she had a quite pronounced pro-Armenian position, so I think her perspective and the continuous advocacy and pressure from the strong Armenian community in Canada played a key role in this decision. In my view, these are the most important factors, and how it will be packaged is a secondary matter.”

When asked whose efforts contributed to Canada reaching this decision—those of various Armenian authorities or the Armenian community—Sargsyan responded, “In my opinion, we should primarily credit the Armenian community, as the community has indeed worked hard in this direction. The flow of Armenians to Canada has never ceased, and the absence of an embassy and consulate in our country has posed serious issues for our citizens. Thus, the role of the community is more significant in this regard. However, we should not forget about the political motivations.”

According to the expert, Canada can naturally be seen as a Western component. In the context of deepening our relations with the West, particularly in business and economic terms, Canada can play an important role. “Besides the economic aspect, there is also a political component, but this political element must be utilized correctly, as having the opportunity is one thing, and making use of that opportunity is another. Regarding whether Canada aims to establish some control in the region with this step, I must say that in my opinion, Canada does not need such a thing. I do not think that establishing control in our region aligns with Canada’s national security interests.”