Deputy Speaker Hawrami and MPs congratulate Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Artak Apitonian on opening of Consulate General in Kurdistan Region

Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami and MPs on 24 February welcomed Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Artak Apitonian to the Kurdistan Parliament and congratulated him and his delegation on opening Armenia's Consulate General in Kurdistan Region.

Deputy Foreign Minister Artak Apitonian was accompanied by Armenia's Ambassador to Iraq Hrachya Poladian, the Consul General in Erbil Arshak Manoukian and Yazidi Member of Armenia's Parliament Rustam Bakoyan.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami said that the opening of the Armenian Consulate General is very important and shows the strength of Kurdistan Region's international relations. 

Dr. Hawrami and Deputy Foreign Minister Apitonian discussed the historic and cultural ties between Kurdistan and Armenia, and both expressed their hope for closer parliamentary, cultural, academic and trade relations. 

Mr. Bakoyan, who is head of the Armenia-Iraq Friendship Group in the Armenian Parliament, said that he hopes to strengthen ties between the Kurdistan and Armenian parliaments when the health situation permits. 

The MPs who congratulated the Armenian delegation were Vahik Kamal Serani (Armenian communities), Dr. Rebwar Babkayi (KDP), Balen Ismaeel (Change), Rozhan Shahid Hamarash (PUK), Yazidi MP Hedya Alu (KDP), Muhammad Elkhani (Turkmen Development).