The interview of interim Iraqi Charge d’Affaires to Armenia, Dr. Alia Mahmoud Salman al-Zubeidi, with “Aravot”
– What are the outcomes since the restoration of Armenian-Iraqi relations suspended as a result of the war in Iraq?
– The bilateral relations between our two friendly countries began to develop in several directions, especially after the reopening of the Iraqi Embassy in Yerevan in 2012. As for the political relations, in the same 2012, the Armenian-Iraqi intergovernmental Committee was formed headed by Deputy Prime Ministers of the two countries, and in the end of 2014, the Iraqi Council of Representatives approved it. On January 26-28, 2016, the third session of the Armenian-Iraqi intergovernmental Committee was held in Baghdad. Referring to the agreements signed between the two countries, I must note that a number of agreements were signed, such as:
– Agreement on “Encouragement of Investments and Mutual Defense” signed between Armenia and Iraq.
– In August 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Iraqi Civil Aviation Department and the RA civil aviation HQ.
– The Agreement signed in November 2013 on “The Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Armenia and the Government of Iraq” which was approved by the Iraqi Council of Representatives in August 2014.
– Which directions have a prospective for development? What is being done to strengthen them?
– The aforementioned agreement covers investment, tourism, science and technologies, transport, transit transportation, information technologies, communications, regional development, agriculture, environment, education and sciences as well as culture. In addition, more than 10 bilateral agreements and memoranda are in the phase of discussion to agree on them and to sign by covering the spheres of investment, avoiding double taxation, agriculture, health care, tourism, high education, culture, sports and youth.
Referring to economic relations, it should be mentioned particularly the growth in the volume of exports from Armenia to Iraq since 2013. If in 2013 it was USD 48 million, in 2014, it was USD 80 million but in 2015 – already USD 128 million. I should add that in the 9 months of current year, the volume of exports already reached USD 101 million.
Speaking about our cooperation in the field of higher education, I must note that the current year of 2016, 230 Iraqi students were admitted to the RA higher education institutions. I must add that as of April 2017, the visit of the Minister of Higher Education of the Republic of Iraq and an Iraqi delegation accompanying him to Armenia is scheduled to discuss a number of issues representing mutual interest and for strengthening the cooperation in the sphere of higher education between the two countries.
Speaking of the tourism industry, I must note that during the summer months, two flights a week are carried out between Armenia and Iraq, and every week, about 300 Iraqi tourists arrive in Armenia. Iraq intends to increase the number of flights in the case of facilitation of visa issuing procedures to Armenia and issuing a visa at the airport or RA land border checkpoints.
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to Armenia is seeking to develop bilateral relations in all spheres, especially given the fact that Armenia is a friendly country for us and closer to Iraq geographically. Armenia and Iraq have many common interests that can bring great benefits to the two countries. We also strive to expand our cooperation in the economic sphere, which will cover increase and intensification of commodity turnover by proportionately strengthening the frameworks of cultural cooperation and historically existing bilateral relations and lay down the beginning of security and military cooperation between Armenia and Iraq as well as sign agreements and memoranda of understanding on security and exchange of information between the security agencies of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Iraq, emphasizing also the strengthening of cooperation in agriculture, health care and energy sectors.
Interviewer Nelly GRIGORYAN,
“Aravot”
