Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Armenia Davit Mirzakhanyan and the Ambassador designate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia Niko Schmermers visited Maastricht

15 August, 2020

On August 15 Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Armenia Davit Mirzakhanyan and the Ambassador designate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia Niko Schmermers visited the southern Limburg province of the Netherlands, where they met with representatives of the Ani Armenian community of Maastricht and members of the parish council of St. Karapet Church.

The guests were welcomed by the chairman of the parish council of the church Leon Sarkis, afterwards the history of the Armenian community of Maastricht was presented to them.

Ambassador N ․ Schmermers thanked the organizers of the meeting, spoke about the Armenian-Dutch bilateral relations which have been raised to a new extent after the Velvet Revolution in Armenia, and due to the new circumstances the Dutch government has expressed its readiness to support the Armenian authorities on its path of large-scale reforms.

Then the floor was given to Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Armenia D ․ Mirzakhanyan who, joined the community representatives in his welcome word addressed to Ambassador N. Schermers. D. Mirzakhanyan mentioned that Mr. Schermers is the only European Ambassador yet who, after being appointed to Armenia, had initiated a series of meetings with Armenian community structures prior to his departure, which had been stated by Ambassador Tigran Balayan on various occasions. D. Mirzakhanyan informed N․ Schmermers that Maastricht is a historical city not only for the Netherlands, where the founding treaty of the European Union was signed, it also occupies a special place in the lives of the Dutch-Armenians and in general for the whole Armenian Diaspora. "And the fact that the patron saint of the city, St. Servatius, is of Armenian descent and is believed to be the first bishop to preach Christianity in the territory of the present day Netherlands is a testimony of what has been said"-concluded D. Mirzakhanyan.

At the end of his word D. Mirzakhanyan wished Ambassador Schermers every success in his new mission expressing a hope, that through active cooperation between the two Embassies, as well as with involvement of the Armenian community structures of the Netherlands, the Armenian-Dutch relations will be given a new impetus.

After the meeting the guests visited the Basilica of St. Servatius in downtown Maastricht, toured the city, got acquainted with other monuments with Armenian heritage.

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