On February 28, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received the delegation of the National Central Council of the Armenian community of Iraq, including Vice-Chairman Sarkis Cholakian, Secretary Sarkis Gotounian and board member Kevork Gatoian.

Greeting the guests, Minister Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the organization’s pro-national activities and stated that the organization was also in charge of accomplishing the mission of regulating the community-State relations in the conditions of the war in Iraq.

The guests expressed gratitude for the cordial reception and high appreciation. They talked about the activities carried out by the Council, the Church and other community organizations and expressed willingness to work more closely with the Ministry and show more active participation in the Ministry’s programs and projects. The vice-chairman of the National Central Council of the Armenian community of Iraq presented the problems of the Armenian community and regretted to mention the decline of the Armenian language and the decrease in the number of members of the community. The sides touched upon the issues on supporting Iraqi-Armenians with the desire to move to Armenia and regulation of the problems with housing, employment and education for them in Armenia.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed further cooperation and organizational issues and pinpointed their future actions.