On May 15, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ara Aivazian held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan Qubad Talabani. 

Welcoming Deputy Prime Minister Talabani and the delegation headed by him, Acting Minister Aivazian noted that though the visit is taking place in a difficult period for Armenia, it is significant in terms of strengthening the Armenian-Kurdish relations intertwined with strong historical ties.

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia commended the recent positive dynamics of the development of relations with the Republic of Iraq. Ara Aivazian reiterated Armenia's willingness towards deepening and expanding the mutually beneficial multifaceted cooperation with the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan, in that context highlighting the importance of the close ties established between the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Erbil and the local authorities. The sides touched upon the implementation of agreements reached regarding such promising fields of cooperation as high technologies, creative education and tourism. 

Both sides commended the contribution of the Armenian community of Iraqi Kurdistan in the political, social and cultural life of the autonomy, as well as in further strengthening the friendship between the two peoples.

Urgent regional and international issues were also discussed during the meeting. Special emphasis was put on the protection of the rights of national and religious minorities and their historical-cultural heritage in the Middle East. In this regard, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia highly assessed the cooperation established between the Matenadaran after Mesrop Mashtots in Yerevan and the Assyrian Heritage Museum of Erbil on the modernization and restoration of the manuscripts.

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia presented to the members of the delegation the situation in the bordering regions of the Republic of Armenia following the provocative actions carried out by Azerbaijan.