“Armenia as a Second Home”: A Conversation with Honorary Consul Mr. Schmidt about Encounters, Bridges, and Moving Moments

Michael Schmidt has served as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Saxony-Anhalt for eight years and in Thuringia for one year. He is a key figure in German-Armenian relations. As an entrepreneur, networker, and dedicated bridge-builder, he is particularly committed to educational and youth exchange, city partnerships, and humanitarian initiatives. Through his close connection to Armenia – shaped both professionally and personally – he has significantly contributed to deepening and sustainably strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

“Armenia has become my second home” – with these words, Michael Schmidt describes the special relationship that has shaped his life and work for many years.

Mr. Schmidt, how did your connection to Armenia originally begin – was it a professional, cultural, or personal impulse that first brought you into contact with the country?

My connection to Armenia arose from a personal impulse. The former Minister President and Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office for Saxony-Anhalt, Christoph Bergner, introduced me to the then Ambassador Ashot Smbatyan. Within the first 30 seconds of our meeting, it was clear that we immediately got along. We realized right away that we shared similar ideas. Shortly afterward, we met again in Magdeburg and later several more times on short notice in Berlin. From this initial sense of mutual sympathy grew a deep appreciation for Armenia – a country I had known from geography lessons during the Soviet era – which has since become an important part of my life story and my personal journey.

Which experiences or encounters do you believe contributed most to making your relationship with Armenia so close and trusting?

I believe my connection to Armenia developed very quickly. Shortly after my appointment as Honorary Consul, I met exchange students in the Burgenland district who had come together through long-standing school partnerships. These partnerships have now existed for more than 15 years.

At that time, I was invited to one of their events – a farewell evening that we hosted in our own guesthouse. A young participant from Armenia, just 14 years old at the time, shared his experiences in Germany and spoke about the student exchange. I was deeply impressed. His German was already so good that I said spontaneously, “This young man, who has the courage to speak in front of us without a script, is someone I must support.”

So I decided to co-finance his German language education. As a result, he eventually became my godchild – Gor Ghandilyan – and through him I grew much closer to life in Armenia and its everyday reality.

After more than eight years of consular work, I can say that Armenia has become a second home for me, a country I love to visit. During times of war, I followed developments with great concern, which affected me emotionally. At the same time, together with others from my network, I provided support for Armenia.

In your role as Honorary Consul – which specific projects or initiatives have you particularly supported to strengthen the exchange between Saxony-Anhalt and Armenia?

One of the most important projects is certainly the long-standing school partnerships, which have now existed for 15 years. They form a central cornerstone of the cultural and personal exchange between Saxony-Anhalt and Armenia.

In addition, I support the Armenian community and its activities, especially during difficult times that have been heavily marked by the conflict with Azerbaijan. In this context, medical splints from Siemens were procured, among other things, and sent to Armenia as humanitarian aid.

Another key focus of my work is the development of the “Zukunftszentrum Deutsche Einheit” (Future Center for German Unity) in Halle, as well as the potential establishment of a TUMO Center in the city. This project is high on my agenda, as it would provide an innovative boost for education, digitalization, and youth development.

There have also been numerous delegation trips by members of our state parliament to Armenia – including the President of the State Parliament, various committees, and other representatives of our federal state. These visits have resulted in important partnerships: for example, the town twinning between Armavir and Naumburg, between Halle and Gyumri, and – already for a longer time – between Leipzig and Yerevan. This means that there are now three city partnerships in Central Germany, which I consider to be a significant and very enriching development.

A project particularly close to my heart is the introduction of the European Hotel Classification system in Armenia, which has been officially implemented this year. This is especially important for tourists from all over the world, as it provides a neutral and transparent evaluation of hotels that corresponds to European standards and is internationally comparable. I am convinced that this is an essential step for modern tourism and for the further development of tourism services and their overall quality in Armenia.

Armenia is known for its rich culture and strong community bonds. Which cultural values or characteristics of the Armenian people impress you personally the most?

I believe one has to say that the Armenian people are a very proud people who have experienced countless wars, conflicts, and border shifts over many centuries – and yet, what impresses me most, they have never lost their spirit for life or their joy. When I walk through the streets of Yerevan today, I encounter an open and warm-hearted culture that welcomes people from all countries. One has the feeling of being in a state where people are happy and enjoy their lives.

I would particularly like to highlight the exceptional hospitality of the Armenians, something that repeatedly impresses me. I am also deeply moved by the country’s cultural heritage – especially Etchmiadzin, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and its connection to Naumburg Cathedral. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which makes this connection even more meaningful.

But I am also someone who loves nature. The landscape of Armenia – its mountainous terrain, its originality, and of course the impressive Lake Sevan – fascinates me every time. Getting to know Armenia in its authentic form has been a great gift, one that I have accepted with deep gratitude.

How do you see the future of Armenian-German cooperation – particularly in the areas of youth, education, and economics – and what role would you like to continue playing in this process?

I see great potential in the future cooperation between Armenia and Germany, especially in the fields of youth, education, and economic development. Many young people in Armenia have an excellent technical education or a completed degree and rank among the very good programmers worldwide. This expertise is a significant asset – also for Germany. Armenian specialists can make valuable contributions in cooperation with German companies, whether in software development or in handling complex projects.

Furthermore, I consider scholarship programs for studying in Germany to be extremely important. They open new perspectives for young people while simultaneously strengthening the cultural exchange between the two countries. The same applies to long-standing student exchange programs, which have been successfully running for many years, as well as to the economic relations between Armenia and Saxony-Anhalt.

Finally, I see an important opportunity in supporting Armenia beyond the borders of Europe on its political path – particularly with regard to democratic structures and the stable development of the country. I hope that Armenia will continue this path as successfully as it has begun. And I would like to continue contributing to this by supporting projects, deepening networks, and bringing both countries even closer together.

The interview was conducted by Dr. Sirarpi Movsisyan