The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Chicago (consular district covering the States of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota) was officially inaugurated on March 22, 2018. A ribbon cutting ceremony at the Armenia’s new consular office in downtown Chicago and the official installation of the Honorary Consul of Armenia – Mr. Oscar Tatosian, were followed by a diplomatic reception in Chicago’s historic Union League Club.

The gathered were addressed by Chicago’s mayor Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Armenian Ambassador to the United States Grigor Hovhannissian. The event was attended by over 400 guests including House Representatives from Illinois, members of the Chicago consular corps and members of the Armenian American community.

The Director of Special Projects at Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Halle Butvin delivered a speech at the event, introducing the Armenian programme of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which will kick off in Washington DC on June 27th and will last until July 8.