YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–On December 12–the Head of the Middle East Division of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Grigor Arakelian announced that an Iraqi embassy is most likely to open in Yerevan next January.
He said UN sanctions imposed on Iraq were hindering Armenia’s efforts to establish normal relations with Iraq. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established last February–and Armenia has opened a diplomatic in Baghdad. It was announced that the official opening of an Armenian embassy in Baghdad will take place next month.
The newly elected chairman of the Armenia-Iraq Friendship Society Karlos Petrosian–who is also the head of ArmenMotor company–said relations between the two countries should not be restricted to cooperation in culture only. He added that ArmenMotor has its representation in Baghdad and is intent on expanding cooperation after the sanctions are lifted. Petrosian also noted that Iraq is interested in gas and oil pipe-line construction projects and electrical production in Armenia.
Petrossian said an Armenian humanitarian mission is soon to leave for Baghdad. The mission will include Armenian businessmen who will try to explore opportunities for cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts.
A lecture on the Iraqi foreign policy at the Armenian Society of Cultural Ties & Cooperation with Foreign Countries was held on December 12th. This marked the beginning of a series of arrangemen’s dedicated to Armenian-Iraqi relations organized by the Armenian-Iraqi Friendship Society.