Canada has appointed an Ambassador to head its new embassy in Armenia. The statement from the government said that renowned career diplomat Andrew Turner will lead the mission.
Amb. Turner has a rich understanding of the Middle East but was involved in Canada’s diplomatic activities in the Caucasus region, including Canada’s mediation role in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Amb. Turner’s appointment comes at a time when there’s a military conflict going on in neighboring Azerbaijan. Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amb. Bob Rae, alluded to the fact that the problem in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh could be ethnically motivated and might be a deliberate ethnic cleansing of native Armenians, estimated at 120,000.
Canada’s decision to open an embassy in Yerevan demonstrates its deliberate attempt at deepening relations with Armenia and building new blocs in the region while moving past Russia.
Canada’s decision to establish an embassy in Armenia will also help broaden consular services to Armenians and help it monitor security threats in the region.
Speaking on these issues, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said that the new embassy in Armenia, when ready, will help Canada’s knowledge of the region.
She also stated that it will “guide Canada’s response to evolving security threats” and also help foreigners with visas and Canadians with passport services.”
Armenia remains strategic to Canada given the large number of Armenians living in the country.
However, there are plans by the Liberal government to seek further areas of relations with Armenia.
The call for Canada to support Armenia was re-echoed by the former minister of foreign affairs, Stephane Dion, who in 2022 was the country’s ambassador to the European Union.
She stated that Canada has what is required to offer Armenia support in order to sustain its democracy. She defined Armenia’s democracy as “fragile”, but one that should be a model for other former members of the defunct Soviet Union.
The new embassy is officially expected to begin full operations in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, in October this year.
