 Arman Kirakossian’s mindset and choice of profession were shaped under the influence of his father John Kirakossian, who served as Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1975 – 1985 and was a professional historian and international relations expert. Already in late 1970’s Arman Kirakossian was able to make use of the foreign newspapers, as well as of the political, and historical research materials from foreign sources to which the Foreign Ministry had access. After commencing his work at the Academy of Sciences, Dr. Kirakossian was able to establish cooperative relations between the Foreign Ministry and Center of Scientific Information on Social Sciences, resulting in publications educating the Armenian scholars and political leadership on materials on the Armenian Political Studies published abroad, as well as on literature on modern academic and political studies.
In the aftermath of the tragic earthquake at Spitak in 1988, Arman Kirakossian who then served as international relations consultant at the Central Committee of the Armenian Communist Party was involved in coordinating foreign humanitarian relief activities in conjunction with the Foreign Ministry. In April 1990, he was sent to London as Armenia’s official delegate to participate in the events commemorating the 75 th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. During this visit, Dr. Kirakossian participated in a commemorative march in downtown London, and made a speech at the Trafalgar Square together with British Members of Parliament and representatives of the Armenian political parties.
Between 1991 and 1994, when Arman Kirakossian served as First Deputy Minister and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was closely involved in the efforts to reorganize and staff the newly independent Armenia’s Foreign Ministry and create the necessary legislative framework for the conduct of foreign affairs. He was also responsible for the establishment of bilateral relations with newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and was involved in the diplomatic efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Arman Kirakossian signed many of the first protocols on establishment of diplomatic relations with foreign countries following the re-establishment of Armenian independence, participated in the ministerial forums of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Black Sea Economic Cooperation organization, NATO, and other international organizations, and opened first Armenian Embassies in Europe and Middle East, in London and Cairo, respectively. He received the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in 1992.
 During Arman Kirakossian’s tenure as the Armenian Ambassador in Greece, mutual visits by the Presidents of Armenia and the Hellenic Republic took place, and more than 20 bilateral agreements that laid the basis for serious cooperation between Greece and Armenia in the political, military, economic, scientific, and cultural areas were signed. In 1995 – 1999, Ambassador Kirakossian concurrently served as Armenia’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, and Yugoslavia. In 1999, Ambassador Kirakossian became the Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Greece, and was awarded the City of Athens Honor Medal by the Mayor of Athens.
 In 1999, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America, a position he held until 2005. In 2001 – 2005, Ambassador Kirakossian also served as Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. During his term as the Armenian Ambassador to the United States, the Armenian President visited the United States several times; U.S.-Armenian Economic Task Force was established and held its sessions on regular basis; business forums and exhibitions of Armenian products were held in New York and Los Angeles, which boosted Armenian exports to the United States; Armenia was accorded the Permanent Normal Trade Relations status by the U.S. following its entry into the World Trade Organization; Armenia was selected as a potential recipient of the Millennium Challenge Corporation funds; military cooperation between two countries was established; and ties between Armenian-American community and the Homeland have been further strengthened.
Speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on February 28, 2000:
His Excellency Arman Kirakossian
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States
and
The Honorable Michael C. Lemmon
Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Armenia
Ambassador Arman Kirakossian:
Thank you, Mrs. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, Your Excellency Ambassador Michael Lemmon, Governor Dukmejian. It is an honor to speak at this distinguished forum today and I am delighted to do it together with my colleague and friend, Ambassador Mike Lemmon. I know that he's done a terrific job as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, and I want to once again thank him for that. From my own experience, I know how challenging it is to represent one's country abroad and have to serve both as a conduit for political, economic and cultural dialogue and a lightning rod for strong sentiments and misconceptions.
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TV Fragment
On May 22, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian received Robert Simmons, the Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus.
While summarizing the results of the meeting held on May 18 and 19 between the representatives of the NATO International Staff and the Armenian Committee on the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), the NATO SG's Special Representative said that in a rather short period, Armenia has made headway toward the implementation of the IPAP.
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Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian was on a working visit to the Czech Republic on April 3-4.
There, at the Foreign Ministry, he met with Jaroslav Basta, 1st Deputy Foreign Minister, and Jaromir Plisek, Director General of the Territorial Section.
The interlocutors discussed issues having to do with the development of bilateral cooperation, and possibility of legal, trade and economic links broadening. They also underlined the need for official visits on both sides in
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Newly Appointed Portuguese Ambassador to Armenia Presents Copies of Credentials to Deputy Minister Arman Kirakossian
September 13, 2005
On September 13, Manuel Marcelo Monteiro Curto, the newly appointed Ambassador of Portugal to Armenia (with residence in Moscow), presented a copy of his credentials to Deputy Minister Arman Kirakossian.
During the discussion that followed the protocol ceremony, ...
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Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian receives M. Eric Garcetti, member of the Los Angeles City Council
August 19, 2005
On August 19, Deputy Minister Arman Kirakossian received M. Eric Garcetti, member of the Los Angeles City Council. The purpose of Councilman Garcetti's visit was to discuss with the Yerevan Municipality the possibility of signing an agreement establishing Sister City relationship between...
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ARMENIA: A successful new Armenia is emerging from a long Soviet shadow
Thomas Cromwell
With a hostile Azerbaijan to the east and Turkey to the west, and an often chaotic Georgia to the north, Armenia has had to struggle to establish itself as a modern state after suffering 70 years under Soviet rule. It has been a fairly slow process as both the minds of people raised in the Soviet system and an economy built to serve it have had to undergo radical change.
But Armenia’s ambassador to Washington, Dr. Arman Kirakossian, sees a good bit to be hopeful about when discussing recent developments in ...
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