On the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Syria, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Syria, Doctor of Historical Sciences Arshak Poladyan has released his book “Armenian-Syrian Relations: Historic Partnership” in Damascus. As reported the Department of Press, Information and Public Relations at the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Poladyan’s book sheds light on the Armenian-Syrian relations starting from the era of Tigran the Great (1^st century BC). The book shows that, alongside the other factors, what also highly contributed to the spread of Armenians across historic Syria was the pilgrimage to Jerusalem where the Armenian community had started being formed back in the 4^th century BC and later contributed to the formation of Armenian communities in the region and the growth of the role of Armenians in trade, economy, culture and religious life in Syria.

What served as an impetus for the participation of Armenians in the public and cultural life in historic Syria was the inclusion of Armenia within the composition of the Arab Khalifate in 640. This lasted nearly 250 years. Later, it continued to grow stronger during the rule of the Ottoman Turks when Armenia and historic Syria had been within the composition of the Ottoman Empire for more than four centuries. The author particularly emphasizes the participation of Arab-speaking Armenians in the Arab awakening (Nahda).

What had an essential impact on the spread of the Armenians in Syria were the massive assaults and repressions against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the 1890s. As the author writes, the Armenian community of Syria expanded more quantitatively and turned into a community in the wake of the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Poladyan highly appreciates the manifestations of generosity towards the Armenian deportees in the first half of the 20^th century.

Touching upon the history of the Armenian community of Syria following the genocide, the author states that throughout more than a century, the Armenians, as full-fledged citizens of Syria, have participated in the country’s struggle for independence and in the development and construction of the army of the newly independent Syria. This is why the Armenians have always been respected and appreciated by the authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic as a national and religious minority. Such an attitude of the Syrian government towards the Armenians served as fertile ground for the effective development of the official relations between Armenia and Syria following Armenia’s declaration of independence in 1991. Whereas Armenian-Syrian relations were mainly at the level of mutual contacts between the two nations in the past, the active interstate contacts between the Republic of Armenia and the Syrian Arab Republic began after the signing of the memorandum on the establishment of diplomatic relations on 6 March 1992, the author states.

Deputy of the People’s Council of Syria, renowned Syrian intellectual, recipient of the Medal of Gratitude, owner of Dar Al-Shark Publishing House and great friend of the Armenian nation Nabil Toome is attached to the book, which has been released with a beautiful cover.

Ambassador Arshak Poladyan’s book is also valuable in that the author has witnessed the origin of the diplomatic relations of Armenia with Syria and with the Arab World by being a part of Armenia’s diplomats for nearly a quarter of a century and by holding the office of Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Syria since 2007. He has witnessed and participated in all the major event s related to the relations between the two countries over the past 25 years. Thus, the book is not only of historical value, but also of documental value.