RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received Pastor of the Diocese of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church of Iraq in Zakho, Fr. Priest Mambrre Hmayakyan.

The Minister attached importance to the activities targeted at preservation of the Armenian identity within the Armenian community of Iraq and the efforts of the local Armenian church aimed at building an Armenian Sunday school.

Priest Mambre Hamayakyan expressed gratitude for the cordial reception and the support to the creation of an Armenian Sunday school adjunct to the church. He highly appreciated the programs of the Ministry of Diaspora targeted at preservation of the Armenian identity, attached special importance to the publication of the Kurdish-Armenian and Armenian-Kurdish dictionary upon the order of the Ministry and stated that the church’s Deacon Ohannes is participating in the teacher training course (part of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program of the Ministry). The newly created Armenian Sunday school has received textbooks and supporting materials within the scope of the Ministry’s program called “Development of Textbooks and Supporting Materials and Provision to Armenian Schools of the Diaspora”. Fourteen young Iraqi-Armenians have participated in the “Ari Tun” Program, three of which were from Zakho. The pastor assured that the Armenian school would help the more Iraqi-Armenians show participation in the Ministry’s programs.

Priest Mambre Hmayakyan informed that there are about 700 Armenians living in Northern Iraq and that there is a church established in 1923. The community has the status of a national minority and is led by the spiritual leader. The government is generous towards national minorities. The people in Northern Iraq are compassionate towards the Armenians. More and more Armenians from Baghdad and Mosul are joining the community.

The state and problems of the Armenian community in the context of the current conflicts in the region were considered during the meeting.