by Miceál O’Hurley
DUBLIN – Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat would like to announce a further award of the Diplomatic Service Medal. The Awards Committee has elected to recognise the service of Mr. Ohan Yergainharsian, Honorary Consul of Armenia to Ireland. The conferral of the Diplomatic Service Medal will take place in December.
Mr. Ohan Yergainharsian, a member of the Armenian Diaspora, is a long time resident and citizen of Ireland. In April, 2008, The Government of Armenia nominated Ohan to serve as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenian in Ireland and the Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed his appointment on behalf of the Irish government. Over the past 13-years, Ohan has been active in providing Consular assistance to the Armenian community in Ireland as well as working diligently to build bilateral relations and greater understanding between Armenia and Ireland.
Working in cooperation with the Armenian community, Ohan was one of the leaders who worked to establish St. Hripsime Armenian Sunday School (Dublin) in 2009. A centre for community and worship in the confession of the Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Hripsime also serves as a cultural centre, helping parents who have chosen to make Ireland their home pass-on to their children the Armenian language, culture and traditions.
The combination of Consular and community work, and Ohan’s leadership in the private sector as Founder and CEO of Sona Nutrition, Ltd., a nutrition and health supplements company with a global reach, has been instrumental in enhancing the bilateral relations between Armenia and Ireland and assisting the Armenian community in Ireland to prosper and integrate all while maintaining the ancient richness of Armenian culture, faith and traditions that significantly adds to the richness of Irish life and society. Mr. Yergainharsian’s service as Honorary Consul of Armenia to Ireland over the past 13-years has been distinguished and is worthy of praise and recognition by the diplomatic community.
Honorary Consuls
Honorary Consuls are an important element of Ireland’s global engagement with other nations, especially where there is no resident Embassy or Consulate staffed by career diplomats. The functions, privileges and immunities of honorary consuls are set out in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963. In recognition of the vital role Honorary Consul play in Ireland, The Diplomatic and Consular Relations Act (1967) gave the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 the force of law in the State and enabled Ireland to ratify the Convention the same year. Mr. Yergainharsian has served as the first Honorary Consul of Armenia to Ireland – an appointment that has been pivotal in continuing to build closer bonds between Armenia and Ireland.
Armenian Community in Ireland
Given the years of service to Armenia as Honorary Consul, his long-term service to the community, his acumen as a business leader with Sona Nutrition, Ltd., and the care and concern he has shown for both Armenians and Irish citizens in need, the Armenian Community in Ireland are happy to be the Patron for this year’s award of the Diplomatic Service Medal to Mr. Ohan Yergainharsian. Members of the Armenian community will assist in the presentation of the Award to Ohan Yergainharsian, Honorary Consul of Armenian to Ireland, in the Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat Awards 2021.
About the Diplomatic Service Medal
The Diplomatic Service Medal is struck as a medallion suspended from a bar and ribbon of blue and yellow reflecting the colours adopted by the European Union of which Ireland is an integral member. Burnished silver in colour, the medal depicts Nike, the goddess of victory surrounded by the eleven of the twelve stars of the European Union signifying that the work of the European Union and diplomats everywhere is never complete. Tradition holds that Nike represents the mythic gods as the embodiment of victory in both war and peaceful competition. As uniquely depicted on the Diplomatic Service Medal, the goddess Nike, faithful to the foundational commission of diplomats, is rendered without her sword associated with military might and instead holds aloft the torch of truth, knowledge and service lit with the flame of wisdom in her left hand while in her right she embraces the laurel wreath of peace.
The Diplomatic Service Awards are an annual event hosted by Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat. The Certificate and Medal are of exceptional design depicting the victory of diplomacy over conflict. The awards are conferred by the Editor and the Awards Chairperson each December.
Two Types of Awards for Diplomacy, International Relations, Research, Teaching & Service
The Diplomatic Service Award is a certificate that can be awarded to individuals who merit special recognition owing to their exceptional contributions of service in the fields of diplomacy, foreign affairs or international relations, in research or teaching in the academy, or in distinguished service rendered to diplomats. When the Diplomatic Service Award is conferred it is done so by means of a certificate describing the acts that merit the award.
The Diplomatic Service Medal is a medal struck in metal suspended from a clasp and ribbon. It may be conferred upon those who serve in the domestic or foreign services, holding diplomatic rank, or those who have rendered exceptional service to diplomats and the cause of diplomacy. When the Diplomatic Service Medal is conferred it is accompanied by a certificate describing the reason for the award of the medal.
Medal Conferral Categories
Diplomatic Service Medal with Honours – This category is deferred solely upon those holding the dignity of Ambassadorial or Ministerial rank, or by those who discharged the rank of Chargé d’Affaires. It appears with a silver oak leaf device attached to the ribbon to denote the special dignity for which the medal was awarded. The medal is accompanied by a Certificate describing the reasons for the medal being conferred.
Diplomatic Service Medal – The medal, suspended from the ribbon, is awarded to all other recipients of the medal accompanied by a Certificate describing the reasons for the medal being conferred.
Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour Device – If any recipient is presented with the award for having exhibited exceptional valour in diplomatic service for the betterment of humanity, or the safety of civilians, which merits the award of the Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour. In this instance, a ‘V’ device surrounded by a laurel wreath is attached to the ribbon to denote this rare and special distinction. The medal is accompanied by a Certificate describing the reasons for the medal being conferred.
Award Certificate
Diplomatic Service Award – Those whose contributions are deserving of recognition may be awarded the Diplomatic Service Award – Certificate of Recognition.
Conferral of Medals and Awards
Annual December Awards – The Diplomatic Service Medals and Awards are generally presented annually in December. However, the medal or award may be awarded at any time by a decision of the Editor and Awards Chairperson.
Comments from Editor-in-Chief Miceál O’Hurley
“Few Honorary Consul have contributed so distinctly to the fabric of their people all while building stronger ties between their nations and Ireland as Ohan has done for Armenia and the Armenian diaspora community in Ireland,” said O’Hurley. “The same skill, determination and care he took in building Sona Nutrition, Ltd. was and continues to be given to the Armenian-Irish community and to the field of consular and diplomatic activities he undertakes on behalf of Armenian-Irish bilateral relations. Not only for the many years of his service, but for the skill and acumen with which he has discharged his duties as Honorary Consul of Armenia in Ireland, Ohan Yergainharsian deserves both our congratulations and this very deserved recognition,” O’Hurley commented.
Comments from Awards Chairperson Oksana Shadrina
“With a relatively small Armenian community in Ireland, most would have been content to perform their duties when issues arose requiring their attention,” Shadrina commented. “That is not Ohan Yergainharsian! Over the past 13-years he has sought ways to build the community, participate in ways both great and small, roll-up his sleeves, help meet the needs of the Armenians in Ireland as well as anticipate and deliver on ways of serving that make a measurable difference in their lives, the lives of their children and the preservation of Armenian faith, culture and language which distinctly add to the quality and richness of Irish life. He has performed no small measure of good work in promoting bilateral relations between Armenia and Ireland and it is our privilege to recognise such outstanding work from such a worthy person,” added Shadrina.
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For More Information Contact:
Miceál O’Hurley, Editor-in-Chief
Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat
Email: editor@diplomacyireland.eu
Telephone: (086) 107 0017 or (01) 254 4747
