Ambassador Arman Kirakossian

Aram Kirakossian, one of the most seasoned diplomats since Armenia’s independence and Armenia’s former ambassador to the United States passed away Saturday. He was 62.

Kirakossian died in London, where he was serving as Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, a position to which he was appointed in 2018.

“Our diplomatic family lost a great man. We lost a great friend. Arman Kirakossian’s wisdom, dedication and patriotism are our inspiration, his memory is our guidance,” said Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan in a Facebook post.

“From the first day of the newly independent Armenia [Kirakossian] has stood by and has been at the vanguard of diplomatic service and establishment of [Armenia’s] foreign policy and has had his unwavering input,” said Armenia’s Foreign Ministry in announcing Kirakossian’s passing.

“I feel excruciating pain: I have lost my old friend, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Doctor of History, Professor Arman Kirakossian,” expressed President Armen Sarkissian in a condolence message posted on the president’s website.

President Armen Sarkissian posted this picture of him with the late Arman Kirakossian raising the Armenian Tri-color in 1991

Our family has lost a true friend and a wonderful person, meetings with whom were always appreciated, happy, and productive. Our people and state have lost a worthy son, a meticulous scientist-historian, a professional diplomat, an honorable citizen dedicated to the homeland,” added President Sarkissian.

“I was saddened to learn of the death of Ambassador Arman Kirakossian,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was on an official visit to Vietnam at the time Kirakossian’s death, tweeted.
“Ambassador Kirakossian was standing at the forefront of the newly formed Armenian diplomatic service and has contributed to the resolution of our foreign policy challenges. My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Arman Kirakossian,” added Pashinyan.

From 1991 to 1994, Kirakossian held served as the First Deputy Foreign Minister, and, from October 1992 to February 1993, served as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. He held the diplomatic Rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

From 1994 to 1999 Kirakossian was Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece. He also assumed the duties of the Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Athens. Kirakossian was also accredited to Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Kirakossian served as Armenian Ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2005. He was also Permanent Observer of the Republic of Armenia to the Organization of American States from 2001.

In 2005 he was appointed again as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Kirakossian assumed his role as Ambassador to Austria and the OSCE in 2011. Since November 2018, he was Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Kirakossian received his bachelor’s degree in history and geography in 1977 and a master’s degree in History of the Armenian Question and International Diplomacy in 1980 from the Armenian State Pedagogical University. In November 1999, he earned the degree of Doctor of Sciences in History from the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

Before embarking on a diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Kirakossian held several high-level academic positions at the National Academy of Sciences. He was Project Director at the Center of Scientific Information for Social Sciences from 1980 to 1986, then Senior Fellow and Associate Director of the Armenian Diaspora Studies Department from 1990 to 1991.