Dominican Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos presented credentials to the government of Armenia on Monday, 11 April 2022. The Dominican Republic has had diplomatic ties with Armenia since 2007 but this is the first time the Dominican Republic has an ambassador accredited to the Central Asian country. The Dominican ambassador was the first ambassador to be accredited by President Vahagn Khachaturyan who was elected on 3 March 2022.
During the presentation of credentials, Ambassador Dannenberg Castellanos spoke of efforts underway to foster closer relations. He highlighted the cultural ties the shared Christian religious background represents for both countries.
Dannenberg Castellanos says the head of state of Armenia showed an interest in the success story of the Dominican tourism industry to replicate some of this in his own country.
The new diplomatic ties will allow for university student exchanges with the top universities in both countries where students can study in Russian or English.
The doors are also now open for reciprocal exports and imports.
President Khachaturyan announced that the Dominican Republic citizens have been included in a shortlist of countries that can be issued visas upon arrival. He requested the DR reciprocate this action. He sees the Dominican Republic as a potential bridge between the Caucasus Region and the Caribbean and Central America. The Caucasus Region countries are Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
As part of the Ministry of Foreign Relations concerted effort to expand Central Asian relations, the Dominican ambassador to Turkey, Elvis Alam Lora is scheduled to present credentials to the heads of state of Georgia and Azerbaijan in coming months. Georgia and Azerbaijan will be covered concurrently from the Dominican Embassy in Turkey. Dannenberg Castellanos is the resident ambassador in Russia and concurrent with the republics of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhastan (19 April credentials presentation), Moldova, Mongolia (27 April credentials presentation), Tajikistan and now Armenia.
Wikipedia explains that Armenia became independent in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The country’s economy is primarily based on industrial output and mining. Wikipedia says the country aligns itself geopolitically with Europe and is a member of numerous European organizations including the Council of Europe and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Armenia is also a member of certain regional groups throughout Eurasia, including the Asian Development Bank, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Eurasian Union and the Eurasian Development Bank.
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Armenia
12 April 2022