Falah Mustafa, Foreign Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) met with Armenia’s Ambassador to Iraq on February 2 in Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq, to discuss bilateral relations, according to the official KRG website.

This was the first visit by Ambassador Karin Gregorian to Erbil for talks with the government of the Kurdish Region.

Gregorian said that the president and Armenian government are committed to establishing and strengthening ties with the Kurdistan Region and briefed Minister Mustafa on the opening of Armenia’s consulate general in Erbil.

The Ambassador announced that starting next week; Armenia will conduct direct flights from Yerevan to Erbil twice per week. He hoped that this will lead to more economic and cultural exchanges between Kurdistan and Armenia.

Ambassador Gregorian commended the KRG for its political and economic developments as well as its culture of peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance.

Minister Mustafa welcomed the Ambassador to Kurdistan and thanked him for his efforts to establish institutional ties between Kurdistan and Armenia. He commended the commitment of the government of Armenia to strengthen ties with Kurdistan and welcomed the commencement of flights between Erbil and Yerevan.

Mr. Mustafa and Ambassador Gregorian also discussed the security and humanitarian challenges facing the Kurdistan Region. The Ambassador expressed the support and solidarity of the government and people of Armenia with the government and people of Kurdistan and pledged that   Armenia will soon provide Kurdistan with assistance.