The 6th ministerial meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations was held in Baghdad. Representatives of Armenia, Peru, Bolivia, China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Iran, Mexico, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, and UNESCO participated in the meeting chaired by the Iraqi Foreign Minister.
In his speech, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan emphasized the forum's role as a platform for cultural dialogue and cooperation, whose activities aim to protect the rich cultural heritage of ancient civilizations.
The fact that the ancient Armenian cultural heritage is endangered in Nagorno-Karabakh and the directed policy of deliberate destruction, desecration, appropriation, and vandalism against it were emphasized.
The deputy minister emphasized the support of international partners to prevent the destruction of the heritage of the ancient Armenian culture. From this point of view, the need for the urgent implementation of UNESCO's technical mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and neighboring areas, within the framework of the Hague Convention of 1954, was emphasized as an essential means of preserving the Armenian cultural heritage in the region.
As a result of the work done during the forum, the heads of delegations of the member states adopted the Baghdad Declaration. The leaders of councils of the member states were received by the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
During the visit, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan met with Iraqi President Abdul-Latif Rashid. During the meeting, Vahe Gevorgyan noted that Iraq is a reliable partner of Armenia in the region. In this context, further expansion and development of all spheres of bilateral cooperation was emphasized, emphasizing the need for continuous deepening of trade and economic ties. The efforts of the Iraqi side in organizing the 6th Ministerial Forum of Ancient Civilizations held in Baghdad were highly appreciated.
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan also had a bilateral meeting with Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein. During the session, the interlocutors touched on several issues of bilateral interest and regional security and peace. The parties reaffirmed their readiness to develop Armenian-Iraqi relations.