Eleftheria Daily Newspaper (print and online) Interview with the Armenian Ambassador to Greece, Tigran Mkrtchyan

13 November, 2025

Q.: Your Excellency, what is the purpose of your visit to Larissa?

A.: Larissa is a very important place in Greek political, economic and strategic geography. For us, it is essential to develop relations not only with the authorities in Athens or Thessaloniki, but also with other major cities and regions of Greece. Larissa has historical connections with Armenia and the Armenians.
We know, for example, from the legend narrated by Strabo, a B.C. first-century geographer, who describes the legendary Argonaut expedition, that one of the Argonauts was Armenos. The village here in Larissa is called Armenios, and this name has remained so for a very long period. According to Strabo, this is one of the versions of how the country of Armenia got its name, although scholars believe that the Armenians are autochthonous people (indigenous).
Furthermore, during the classical period, Armenians wore “pukamises” (togas) similar to the Thessalian ones in the theaters, an example of the cultural connections that existed. Plutarch, in his biography of Crassus, mentions that Artavazdes, the Armenian king and son of Tigran the Great, wrote tragedies in Greek and watched a performance of Euripides’ Bacchae with the Persian king in the theatre of the Armenian capital - Artaxata.
All of this shows how connected Armenians and Greeks were for thousands of years. Thessaly, therefore, has its own place in this big picture, in terms of the historical perception of Armenians.

Q.: How is this historical relationship connected to modern cooperation?

A.: My visit here has a practical character. We want to deepen cooperation between the regions of Thessaly and the corresponding regions of Armenia. Local bodies here, such as the mayor and the regional governor, emphasize technological development, green energy, alternative energy sources, education and cultural diplomacy. These areas are key elements of their policies and the Armenian government strongly supports the development of these areas in our respective policies.
There is, therefore, a high probability of identifying common areas of interest for cooperation between Thessaly and Armenia.

Q.: How do you assess the cultural and educational relations between Greece and Armenia today?

A.: Cultural and educational ties are very important. This year, we had a very successful visit of the Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports to Greece, where five agreements were signed: four in culture and one in education, between the competent ministries of the two countries.
In addition, there are many events and collaborations on cultural issues. In the field of education, for example, the Kapodistrian University of Athens collaborates with the Yerevan State University, the Medical University in Yerevan is developing cooperation with the Medical School in Heraklion. There is an Armenian Studies Center in the Democritus University of Thrace. There is also an ongoing dialogue between the Technical University of Athens and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia. These relations are constantly expanding and deepening. I am delighted to note that there is an active cooperation between the Armenian and Greek Museums and hopefully soon we will have some good news of big significance.

Q.: What about economic cooperation?

A.: The possibility of economic cooperation with Greece is very high and has significant prospects. However, there are still difficulties with respect to the delivery of goods from Armenia, as the country does not yet have an open border with Turkey. This means that products have to be transported through third countries and sea routes, such as through Georgia and the Black Sea or through Bulgaria. These procedures require more time, resources and bureaucracy.
We hope that in the future, when Armenian-Turkish relations are normalized and the borders are opened, there will be economic benefits for both Armenia and Greece, as well as for Armenia’s economic ties with European Union member states.

Q.: How do you see the role of Greece and the European Union in assisting the peace process in the South Caucasus region?

A.: The European Union is a strategic partner for the development of Armenia. The Prime Minister of Armenia recently underlined that Armenia’s aspiration to correspondence to European standards is not a question of geopolitical choice, but a choice of democratic route for the country. The country's parliament approved a law on initiation accession to the EU, which requires multiple stages and legal procedures, both from us and from Europe. Armenia has been massively implementing reforms which make our commitments to European values even stronger.
Europe, also through the European Peace Facility (EPF), contributes to strengthening Armenia’s resilience. The European Civilian Mission in Armenia also has had a very stabilizing effect on the established peace. In other words, Europe has many possibilities for action that promote stability and peace in the region.

Q.: And a more personal question: what is your impression of Larissa and its citizens?

A.: My first contact with Larissa was through a friend of mine, Stergios Tatsios, a wonderful Greek and a teacher. I already knew what Larissa was and where it was, as I had passed through there in 1999 traveling by train from Athens to Thessaloniki. At that time, I could not imagine that I would become an ambassador and that I would officially come to Larissa.
I have very positive impressions of the city: it is lively, with young people, beautiful squares, fountains in the center and modern Greek music. I also visited the Ancient Theater of Larissa and was impressed by the combination of modern and ancient, which coexist in a very beautiful way.

Q.: What does the history of ancient Greece mean to you?

A.: Ancient Greek history is a constant source of inspiration for me. I could not have left if I had not seen the Ancient Theater. I had a similar experience in Rome ten years ago, when, under torrential rain, which would not stop after my arrival in the Eternal City after years of dreaming to be there, I visited the Colosseum and the Forum. Despite the difficulties, the visit was invaluable, and I felt the same way here in Larissa.

Q.: What are the next steps to deepen relations between Greece and Armenia?

A.: We want to continue and expand cooperation in all areas: culture, education, economy and technology. The political dialogue and defense cooperation are on a very high level. I believe that simultaneous and consistent development of these ties between Armenia and Greece has brought us to a stage when it is high time to formally characterize them as strategic partnership.
Regarding Europe, there is now a new, ambitious partnership agenda with the EU with significant financial implications, and Europe provides full support to Armenia in this context.

Q.: What will you keep as a dominant impression of Larissa?

A.: For me, Larissa is not only a city with historical significance. It is a city where tradition and modern life coexist harmoniously. Its liveliness, young people, beautiful squares, fountains, modern music and ancient history make up a very rich cultural scene. Here you see how history inspires the present and the future, which is also reflected in the cooperation between Greece and Armenia.

Q. Finally, Mr. Ambassador, the Washington Declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan was recently signed. What exactly does it include and what is the framework for its implementation?

A:The Washington Declaration, signed by the PM of Armenia and President of Azerbaijan on August 8 in Washington in the presence of and co-signed by US President Donald Trump, is an important step towards the consolidation of peace and interstate relations in the region. Simultaneously, the Peace Agreement was initialed by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and it concerns the recognition of the territorial integrity of each country, based on the UN Charter and the Almaty Declaration of 1991 as well as lays out the philosophy of establishing relations between the two countries. These documents are indispensable components for peace and security in our region as they affirm the shared goals and objectives that Armenia and Azerbaijan will pursue.
The declaration establishes “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIP), a strategic link in the southern part of Armenia, which along with the deblocking of other transport routes in the region, aims to restore all routes between Armenia and its neighboring countries, with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of each and every country concerned. The TRIPP project fully fits into and is an important component of the Armenian government’s “Crossroads of Peace” project and aims to develop sustainable trade and transport links in the region.
I would like to emphasize that the declaration does not include anything beyond the above points. The United States actively supported the process, and the declaration paves the way for the implementation of a sensible cooperation that will strengthen peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
Attaining peace and security is far more complicated than simply desiring them. And the task of successful statecraft is to seize the opportunities to establish peace and anticipate challenges that may arise in the course of peace building. It is in both Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s interests to have a peace finally established. And the decision makers have a major share of responsibility to move this interest forward and not harm it by actions and/or statements that go against the Washington Declaration.

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