Varsen Aghabekian

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Varsen Aghabekian
فارسين أغابكيان
Վարսեն Աղաբեկյան
Aghabekian in 2024
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Incumbent
Assumed office
31 March 2024
PresidentMahmoud Abbas
Personal details
Born1958 (age 66–67)
Jordan
NationalityPalestinian
Education
ProfessionPolitician, academic

Varsen Aghabekian[a] (born 1958) is a Palestinian politician and academic. She was appointed the minister of state for foreign affairs and expatriates by the Palestinian Authority in 2024, becoming the first person of Armenian descent to hold a ministerial position in the government. She was previously a dean and associate professor at Al-Quds University.

Early life and education

Aghabekian was born in Jordan in 1958.[1] She pursued her higher education in the United States, receiving a master's degree in nursing administration from Indiana University–Purdue University in 1983 and a doctorate in educational policy and management studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 1988.[1][2][3][4]

Career

Work in academia and activism

From 1988 to 2008, Aghabekian was a professor at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem. She was initially an associate professor before holding a number of administrative positions, including dean of the faculty of health professions from 1995 to 1998 and dean of graduate studies from 1998 to 2000.[1][3]

She has held key positions in a number of political and social projects as well. She served as the coordinator of the human resources development unit of the Palestine Medical Council, director of the institutional building project at the office of the Palestinian president, executive director of the 2009 rendition of the Arab Capital of Culture programme, and commissioner-general of the Independent Commission for Human Rights (2016–2018).[3][4] Additionally, she is a board member of the Diyar Consortium, a Palestinian organization focusing on cultural and educational development.[2]

An Armenian Christian, Aghabekian is a founding member of the presidential commission for the restoration of the Church of the Nativity, as well as the presidential commission for church affairs.[1][3] She is an advocate of Christian and women's rights in Palestine.[3]

Tenure as foreign minister

The Palestinian Authority appointed Aghabekian as its minister of state for foreign affairs and expatriates on 29 March 2024.[5] It marked the first time an Armenian had been appointed a minister in the government.[3] She was sworn into office two days later on 31 March.[3][4]

A few weeks before the

2024 US presidential election, Aghabekian expressed hope that the elected candidate would support a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and pursue a neutral but proactive role in the Middle East.[6] After being reelected US president, Donald Trump outlined a plan for the US to occupy the Gaza Strip. In response, Aghabekian reiterated the Palestinian Authority's de jure authority over the Gaza Strip, rejected the plan as "unacceptable", and called on other Western countries to do the same.[7][8][9]

Notes

  1. Arabic: فارسين أغابكيان
  2. Armenian
: Վարսեն Աղաբեկյան

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Palestinian Armenian Varsen Aghabekian Appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affair in New Government". Massis Post. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Board of Directors". Diyar Consortium. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Kuttab, Daoud (29 March 2024). "Varsen Aghabekian the first Armenian in a Palestinian government". Milhilard. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Varsen Aghabekian (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates)". Mapping Palestinian Politics. European Council on Foreign Relations. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  5. ^ "President Abbas approves lineup of new government chaired by Mohammad Mustafa". Wafa. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  6. ^ Kampmann, David (9 October 2024). "Palestinian minister urges US to take unbiased role in ending Israel-Gaza war". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  7. ^ "PLO is the 'only legitimate representative' of Palestinians, minister tells UN Security Council". Arab News. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  8. ^ Ferguson, Sarah (6 February 2025). "'Doesn't include me': The Palestinian problem with Trump's Gaza proposal". ABC News. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ^ Adeyiga, Abisoye (1 March 2025). "Trump's Gaza 'Riviera' Should Be for Gazans – Minister". News Central TV. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
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