President received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Hoshyar Zebari

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Hoshyar Zebari.

Welcoming the guest, the President noted with satisfaction that the Armenian-Iraqi high-level reciprocal visits are getting more active: a month ago, a delegation headed by the Vice Prime Minister of Iraq Rosh Nuri al-Shawish visited Yerevan to participate in the second meeting of the intergovernmental commission. Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Hoshyar Zebari will become another impetus for deepening relations between the two friendly states and expansion of cooperation in different areas. The parties hailed the Armenian-Iraqi political dialogue and noted that both Armenia and Iraq are interested in forming a qualitatively new level of cooperation in all areas. They stressed the importance of direct air connection for the development of economic cooperation which, according to the interlocutors, will also enhance contacts and give a boost to the trade turnover.

President Serzh Sargsyan and Hoshyar Zebari concurred that the Armenian community of Iraq serves as a unique bridge in the Armenian-Iraqi good-neighborly relations which, thanks to the benevolent attitude of the Iraqi people, considers Iraq its second Motherland. Hoshyar Zebari noted that even though the Armenian community of Iraq is not too large, the Armenians in the Iraqi society have been living with respect, as brothers and for that very reason have always been treated with esteem.

The President of Armenia and Foreign Minister of Iraq discussed bilateral political, trade and economic issues as well as issues related to the regional problems.

They also highly praised the Armenian-Iraqi cooperation in the international settings based on mutual respect.