YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Our compatriots living in Iraq and Ukraine have started arriving in Armenia due to the political tension in those countries, Diaspora Minister of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan told Armenpress, adding that their number is still not large.

“All the reserves that Armenia can provide for meeting the needs of our compatriots are being taken into consideration. We also have the assignment of the President on that issue. We work in collaboration with different international institutions trying to extend humanitarian aid to the families arriving from Iraq and Ukraine”, said the Minister.

“The families from Iraq’s Mosul village and its neighborhood have mainly expressed wish to move to Armenia. 4 out of 68 families have arrived in Armenia up to now. We are ready to receive the others too,” she noted. The anti-government forces occupied the city of Mosul in June and the population, including 68 Armenian families and the priest, left the region.

Taking into consideration the given situation, the government of Armenia affords opportunity to our compatriots from Iraq to get Armenian citizenship from the Embassy of Armenia in Iraq. People receiving the Armenian citizenship will be exempt from fees for getting or exchanging a visa, residence permit, or passport.