Switzerland and Armenia enjoy good relations, which include numerous exchanges and Swiss support in the field of international cooperation. Switzerland and Armenia enjoy good relations, which include numerous exchanges. Switzerland supports Armenia in the field of international cooperation and strives to contribute to the resolution of regional conflicts in the South Caucasus.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Armenia
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
Switzerland took an active part as a mediator in the negotiations between Armenia and Turkey on the normalisation of their bilateral relations. The mediation process, which culminated in the signing of the Zurich Protocols on 10 October 2009, helped to cement relations between Switzerland and Armenia, even though Turkey and Armenia did not ultimately ratify the Protocols.
Switzerland has entered into bilateral agreements with Armenia covering a number of areas. A visa facilitation agreement came into force in 2016.
Economic cooperation
In 2022, the volume of trade with Armenia amounted to CHF 70 million – CHF 60 million in exports and CHF 10 million in imports. Switzerland mostly exports pharmaceuticals, machines and watchmaking products to Armenia. Its main imports from Armenia are watchmaking products and textiles.
Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers in Armenia can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships. Between 1971 and 2019, 20 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships were awarded to Armenian applicants.
SERI: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists
Peacebuilding and human security
The FDFA does not have a specific human rights program in Armenia. Switzerland regularly offers its good offices as a host state for meetings between representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
Swiss international cooperation activities in Armenia fall under the wider 2022–25 regional cooperation programme for the South Caucasus, which covers Georgia and Azerbaijan as well. The programme aims to foster relations between cross-bordering regions and provide support for related projects, focusing on the following key areas: good governance and peace support, economic development and jobs, sustainable natural resource management/climate change.
Cultural exchange
Cultural relations between the two countries have developed significantly in recent years. A number of events have taken place during the 'Settimana della lingua italiana' (Italian language week), Francophonie Week and German Language Days.
Swiss citizens in Armenia
In 2023, there were 44 Swiss citizens living in Armenia according to statistics on the Swiss abroad.
History of bilateral relations
Switzerland provided humanitarian aid to Armenia following the devastating earthquake in 1988 when the country was still part of the Soviet Union.
Switzerland recognised the independence of Armenia on 23 December 1991. The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since 30 April 1992. The Armenian ambassador was accredited to Switzerland in 2002.
In 2011, Switzerland opened an embassy in Yerevan. Prior to that date, the Swiss ambassador in Tbilisi was concurrently accredited to Armenia.
There are still only a small number of Swiss nationals living in Armenia. The Armenian community in Switzerland, in contrast, is relatively large: between 4,000 and 6,000 persons with Armenian roots are living in Switzerland.
