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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Armenia opened a consulate and cultural centre in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil in a ceremony on Wednesday.
Among those attending the ceremony were Armenian deputy foreign minister Artak Apitonyan, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) foreign affairs director Safeen Dizayee, and Armenian ambassador to Iraq Hrachya Poladian.
Arshak Manukyan was inaugurated as the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Erbil.
"Today is really a significant event in the history of Armenian-Iraqi relations. Armenia has always attached great importance to the development of relations with the Republic of Iraq, the culmination of which is the launch of the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Erbil," an Armenian foreign ministry statement quoted deputy FM Apitonyan as saying at the opening ceremony.
"Armenians have settled in this country at various stages of history, including in Iraqi Kurdistan, and have received exceptionally friendly treatment from the authorities."
Apitonian met later on Wednesday with Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani.
The meeting "reaffirmed developing diplomatic ties & willingness for bilateral cooperation in various fields", read a tweet from Dizayee.
"The opening of #Armenia’s CG & Cultural Center are important steps towards strengthening our friendly ties,” he added.
The consulate's establishment has been a long time coming. A senior Armenian official announced back in 2015 that a consulate would be opened in Erbil.
The opening of the consulate comes as political turmoil rocks Armenia. Top generals have called for the resignation of prime minister Nikol Pashinyan – a move the premier branded a "coup attempt".
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