13:34, 22 November 2023
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Iraq is an important and trusted partner for Armenia in the Middle East, President Vahagn Khachaturyan told President of Iraq Abdul Latif Rashid in Yerevan at a joint press conference.
“Your visit is indeed a historic one, because you are the first Iraqi president to pay an official visit to Armenia since the establishment of diplomatic relations. I am sure that your visit will open a new chapter in the Armenian-Iraqi relations, and will intensify the multi-sectoral cooperation between the friendly states,” Khachaturyan said.
President Khachaturyan was pleased to note that Armenia’s relations with Arab countries have been developing in an atmosphere of mutual trust and warm friendship ever since Armenia regained independence.
“Bilateral agenda is rather comprehensive and includes numerous areas of cooperation, from trade and economic relations up to educational-cultural, humanitarian and information technologies,” the Armenian President said, adding that the rich past of Armenian-Arab historic-cultural interactions and the presence of the Armenian community in Iraq with a history of centuries are the solid foundation for dynamic development of relations.
“The Armenian nation is grateful to the friendly people of Iraq, especially for receiving the Armenian Genocide survivors and giving them shelter,” Khachaturyan said, thanking the Iraqi government for its caring attitude towards the Armenian-Iraqis. “Iraq is an important and trusted partner for Armenia in the Middle East.”
He added that Armenia is greatly interested in developing the bilateral agenda with Iraq, especially in the trade-economic area.
“We had productive talks with Mr. President Abdul Latif Rashid, during which we discussed a number of issues of mutual interest,” Khachaturyan said.
The presidents expressed certainty that trade volumes can be increased. They also attached importance to the Armenian-Iraqi intergovernmental meeting on economic cooperation that was held in September in Baghdad.
The presidents also discussed cooperation in areas such as agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure development, food and light industry, education, science and culture.
Cooperation in high technologies and digitization was highlighted. “In this regard I said that Armenia is ready to convey to the Iraqi side its successful experience of many years in this sector,” the Armenian President said.
The Armenian and Iraqi Presidents reiterated mutual readiness to strengthen interstate relations.