YEREVAN, CANBERRA: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has announced that their 2018 Advocacy Week in Canberra will feature a high-level Armenian Government delegation, led by First Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister for Economic Development & Investments Artsvik Minasyan, and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Armen Papikyan.

Messrs Mirzoyan, Minasyan and Papikyan will be joined by Armen Ayvazyan – the Head of the International Cooperation Department within the Ministry for Economic Development & Investments, as well as Ani Qamalyan, who is an Assistant within the same Ministry.

Executive Director, Haig Kayserian said that this announcement highlighted that the focus of this year's ANC-AU Advocacy Week would be to enhance bilateral ties between the Republic of Armenia and the Commonwealth of Australia.

"The Armenian-Australian community would take great pride in the expansion of diplomatic and economic relations between our country of origin and our country of citizenship and residence," said Kayserian. "This delegation, which is the highest level Armenian delegation to ever visit Australia, will focus their efforts on furthering those ties and presenting issues of international importance to the people and government of the Republic of Armenia."

High-level meetings have been arranged for the delegation in Canberra, as well as a Cocktail Reception in their honour at Australia's Parliament House. The latter will include an Exhibition showcasing the best of Armenia, and will be hosted by the Co-Chairs of the Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union, Trent Zimmerman MP and Joel Fitzgibbon MP. Members of the ANC-AU Youth Advocates Program will also be in attendance (click here for more information on Program).

"The delegation will also meet with the greater Sydney-Armenian community, as well as community leaders during this trip," Kayserian added, promising further announcements detailing these opportunities in coming days and weeks. "We will also be graced by their presence at the ANC-AU Annual Banquet."

The ANC-AU Annual Banquet will take place on Sunday 21st October, 2018, with guests now including Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister for Economic Development & Investments Artsvik Minasyan, and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Armen Papikyan. The event will honour Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, and also include guests from Australia's Federal and NSW Parliaments. Legendary newsman, George Donikian will be the Master of Ceremonies.

For tickets and more, please click here.