Armenia’s Deputy PM, Territorial Administration Minister, and Armenian-Iraqi Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation Co-Chair Armen Gevorgyan held several meetings in Baghdad on Wednesday.

During his talk with the representatives from Iraq’s railway management, they discussed the opportunities for interaction in the area of communication. Gevorgyan reflected on the Iran-Armenia railway construction and stated that this project will create new opportunities in terms of freight transport in the region. The parties made arrangement on holding bilateral discussions.      

Next, Armenia’s Deputy PM met with Iraq Oil Minister Abdul Karim Luaibi. They examined issues of cooperation in the domains of energy and natural resources and underscored the great potential for collaboration. Gevorgyan reflected on Armenia’s ongoing projects in the energy sector. In his turn, Abdul Karim Luaibi deemed helpful the using of Armenian specialists’ skills in modernizing Iraq’s electricity power plants. Also, the interlocutors reflected on the opportunities for the Armenian side’s involvement in the extraction of oil and natural gas and made arrangements, whereby the working groups will study the possibilities for carrying out joint programs in the oil and natural gas industry.              

Also, Armen Gevorgyan met with Iraq’s FM Hoshyar Zebari. They discussed the avenues for deepening ties between both countries and the cooperation in foreign policy. Gevorgyan noted that Armenia is interested in developing bilateral cooperation within international organizations and conducting a political discourse with Iraq.   

In his turn, Hoshyar Zebari informed that Iraq has a political position of deepening relations with Armenia and that the future opening of Iraq’s Embassy in Armenia will contribute to this objective, too. In addition, he appreciated Armenia’s friendly ties with Arab countries. Reflecting on Iraq’s Armenian community, Zebari noted that although numerous Armenians have left the country during the years of war, now, Iraq stands ready to welcome them back with open arms.      

The interlocutors expressed confidence that the coming years will open up new prospects for developing bilateral relations. Armenia’s Deputy PM and Iraq’s FM exchanged views on regional matters as well.