ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Ukrainian book corner featuring 30 history and literature books opened at the Catholic University in Erbil province on Monday, aiming to introduce students to Ukrainian culture and strengthen cultural and academic ties between Ukraine and the Kurdistan Region.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for our students, teachers, and community to become acquainted through these resources with the history, literature, language, and culture of Ukraine,” university president Dr. Nazar Shabila told Rudaw's Liliia Mirautsa on Monday.
The collection, featuring works by prominent Ukrainian authors, is housed in the university's library and is accessible to students and visitors.
The initiative comes as Ukraine and the Kurdistan Region seek to strengthen ties beyond politics and economics, with cultural exchanges and academic cooperation providing opportunities to bring their communities closer together.
Ivan Dovhanych, Ukraine's ambassador to Iraq, said Ukraine eyed developing broader relations with the Kurdistan Region.
“It is very important to develop relations with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, not only because of economic matters, although that is important, and not only because of political or cultural matters, although those are also important, but also because Kurdistan is a region where one can find more than just a business partner,” Dovhanych told Rudaw.
For Ukrainians living in the Kurdistan Region, the initiative also provides an opportunity to share their heritage with the local community.
“As Ukrainians, we are very happy to attend such an event, because it is always pleasant for us that the country where we live and its people are interested in having a part of ours here,” Ukrainian resident Maryna Telimonchuk told Rudaw.
“It is wonderful that this is happening at a university, so local students will also have the opportunity to get acquainted with our culture,” she added.
Safeen Dizayee, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations, welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it would serve as “another step toward building a bridge of connection between Kurdistan and Ukraine,” particularly through academic cooperation and people-to-people relations.
Established in 2015 in Erbil's Christian-majority neighborhood of Ainkawa, the Catholic University provides higher education to students from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
