Armenia–Syria relations

Armenian–Syrian relations

Armenia
Syria

Armenian–Syrian relations are foreign relations between Armenia and Syria. Armenia has an embassy in Damascus and a consulate general in Aleppo. In 1997, Syria opened an embassy in Yerevan. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa visited Armenia in March 1992.[1]

Syria established diplomatic relations with Armenia soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Syrian President Hafez al-Assad maintained good relationships in part because of the large Armenian community in Syria. Around 120,000 people of Armenian descent live in Syria. They compose a majority in the towns of Kessab and Yakubiyah, and play a part in the political life of Syria.

During the Armenian Genocide, the Ottoman Empire used the Syrian desert of Deir ez-Zor as the main killing fields of Armenians. The native Arabs sheltered and supported the Armenians. A memorial complex commemorating this tragedy was opened in the city of Deir ez-Zor.[2] It was designed by Sarkis Balmanoukian and was officially inaugurated in 1990 with the presence of the Armenian Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The complex contains bones and remnants recovered from the Deir ez-Zor desert of Armenian victims of the Genocide and has become a pilgrim destination for many Armenians in remembrance of their dead, before being partially destroyed by ISIL.

Country Comparisons

 Armenia  Syria
Populations 2,924,816 17,064,854
Area 29,743 km2 (11,484 sq mi) 185,180 km² (71,500 sq mi)
Population density 101.5/km2 (262.9/sq mi) 118.3/km2 (306.4/sq mi)
Capital Yerevan Damascus
Largest city Yerevan Damascus
Government Unitary Semi-Presidential republic Unitary Dominant-Party Semi-Presidential republic
Official languages Armenian Arabic
Main religions 94.8% Christianity, 4% Not Religious, 0.8% Yazidism, 0.4% Other 87% Islam, 10% Christianity, 3% Druzism

Syrian Civil War

Despite the country's ongoing Syrian Civil War, the Armenian embassy is still open in Damascus and the countries maintain diplomatic relations.

Following president Bashar al-Assad's victory in the 2014 Syrian presidential election, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Assad saying "I wish you [Bashar al-Assad] good health and successes and I wish the friendly Syrian people eternal peace."[3]

Armenia has also provided tons of humanitarian aid to Syria throughout the civil war, most notably sending 40 tons of humanitarian aid including relief and food items in 2017. Armenian Ambassador Arshak Poladian said that the aid “came under the directives of the President of the Republic of Armenia and presented by the Armenian people.”[4]

Armenian militias

Armenian militias played a significant role. While they remain close alliance with the Kurdish groups such as PKK and YPG, which mostly oppose Turkish military involvement in Syria; the militias are majority pro-Assad and pro-Government against the Free Syrian Army.

Armenian Genocide and Karabakh issues

Syria recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2015, became the second Arab state after Lebanon to do so, which was perceived positively by Armenia and Armenians. This came amidst the straining of relations between Syria and Turkey. The Turkish Government was angered over the recognition.

In the similar response to Azerbaijan's supports for their Turkic brethren, Turkey, against Syria, Syria has voiced their supports for Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Armenia is being accused by both Turkey and Azerbaijan for allowing Syrian refugees to resettle in Karabakh, amidst the diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Syria.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Zisser 1995, p. 733.
  2. ↑ "Monument and Memorial Complex at Der Zor, Syria". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "President Sargsyan congratulates Syria's Assad on re-election". 13 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Armenia sends 40 tons of humanitarian aid to Syrian people -Syrian Arab News Agency". Syrian Arab News Agency. 9 June 2017.
  5. ↑ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-armenians-move-to-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-55588

Bibliography

  • Zisser, Eyal (1995). Ayalon, Ami, ed. Middle East Contemporary Survey. 16. The Moshe Dayan Center. ISBN 9780813321332.


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