President Armen Sarkissian handed the high state award to the family of Arman Kirakossian: Great scientist and a brilliant diplomat

President awarded Arman Kirakossian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Arman Kirakossian with the Order of Honor (posthumously).

Today, at the Presidential Palace, President Armen Sarkissian handed the state award to the family members of the blessed memory Arman Kirakossian.

Present at the ceremony was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs Zoharb Mnatsakanian, diplomats, scientists, friends of Arman Kirakossian.

President Sarkissian noted in his remarks that Arman Kirakossian was a great scientist and a brilliant diplomat, his best friend and partner. “Certainly, one might think that this award should have reached Arman years ago. But I believe that it is not belated because Arman Kirakossian’s life will go on, and our appreciation for Arman – a great personality, scientist, and diplomat, and his work will continue. In the future too, we will gather to celebrate the amazing life of our friend and colleague. I am confident that his unpublished works will be published, that there will be multiple discussions related to him and pertinent to diplomacy, Armenian Cause, Armenian Genocide and in general, we will remember our friend very often,” President Armen Sarkissian said.

He proposed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia to endow an annual award for young Armenian diplomats, which, according to the President, will be bestowed each year upon the brightest of young diplomats who registered a considerable success in carrying on with the outstanding life of Arman Kirakossian.

The widow of Arman Kirakossian, Susanna Kirakossian expressed thanks for the award and attention and said that throughout his life, her husband up to the last day was dedicated to Armenian studies, diplomacy, and the state. “Although he left us, alas, too soon, he left his footprint in the history of modern Armenia, and in diplomacy in particular. I am confident that Arman would be happy to have this high award, that his work will be continued, memories about him will be hold bright by the people who had a chance to know him and work with him,” she said.

“Arman Kirakossian accomplished his mission, created a tradition, a culture for the Armenian statehood, maturing and development of the Armenian diplomatic service,” Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian said. “And because of it, Arman Kirakossian set guidelines for each diplomat, guidelines on being decent, dedicated to the nation and state, to one’s job.”

Arman Kirakossian’s work, merits, and personality were presented also by his colleagues and friends, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RA Academy of Sciences Rouben Safrastian, historian Aram Simonian, Director of the RA National Archives Amatuni Virabian.