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On October 2 the NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov received the delegation of the Yezids who arrived from the Republic of Iraq and the Autonomous Republic of Kurdistan. It included the deputy of the Autonomous Republic of Kurdistan Mir Hazem Tahsin Sayeed, the Minister of Civil Society Relations of Iraq Doctor Mamo Otlan, the Minister of Agriculture of Kurdistan Jemil Sleman Haydar, the Adviser to the Prime Minister of Kurdistan Mirza Hasan Ali, the lawyer Kerim Sleman, the clergyman Ido Haji and the Chairman of the Council of Mirza Shangal NGO Amo Sharoyan.

In the course of the meeting problems pertaining to culture, religion, language and in general, national identity preservation of the Yezid community in Armenia and the Armenian community in Iraq and Kurdistan were discussed.

Eduard Sharmazanov has assured that the state concern towards the national minorities in Armenia, particularly, the Yezids’ national-cultural problems is at high level, and the Armenian people’s attitude is conditioned by the friendship coming through centuries and Armenian people’s value system. The best opportunities created for the preservation and development of the Yezids’ language, culture, customs witness to that, its vivid evidence is also the Yezids: religious sacred place in Armavir marz. To more activate the friendly relations of the two countries and peoples Eduard Sharmazanov also proposed to develop the parliamentary relations making more frequent the deputies’ mutual visits.

The members of the delegation thanked the Armenian side for the steps aimed at state concern, preservation of their people’s identity, informing them the Government of Kurdistan does its best in providing the involvement of the Armenian community in different circles of governing the country and in the reinforcement of the friendship of the Yezid peoples.

During the meeting other issues relating to the strengthening of cooperation between the two peoples and joint solution of different problems were discussed.