Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq has named Iraqi Armenian diplomat Krikor Der-Hagopian its new ambassador to the United States in a decision that signals both Baghdad’s desire to deepen ties with Washington and the country’s rich history of religious and ethnic diversity. 

Der-Hagopian, a veteran Iraqi diplomat who has worked in diplomatic and political posts for many years, is a key advisor to Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.

If the United States confirms him, he would be Iraq’s first non-muslim ambassador to Washington in decades.

The nomination is part of a wider Iraqi push to broaden ties with the United States beyond security problems, with greater attention on commerce, investment, energy, and economic collaborations, regional officials said.

The nomination is also a symbolic victory for Iraq’s Armenian minority, which has been part of the fabric of Iraqi society for almost a century.

During and after the Armenian genocide in the early 20th century, thousands of Armenians sought refuge in Iraq, settling in such towns as Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, and Kirkuk.

Through centuries, Iraqi Armenians built churches, schools, companies, and cultural institutions and were important to the country’s social, economic, and cultural life while maintaining their language and customs.

Today, Iraq’s Armenian community is one of the oldest in the Middle East, and many analysts say Der-Hagopian’s nomination reflects the role Iraq’s different groups have played in the country’s growth and public life.

The nomination comes as Baghdad and Washington are looking to deepen bilateral collaboration.

In recent conversations, the security links that have traditionally bound Iraq and the United States have also come to include investment, energy, technology, and economic growth.

If approved, Der-Hagopian would be the first person of Armenian descent to represent Iraq in one of its most significant diplomatic posts and would also serve to underscore the country’s diverse character and the involvement of its minority populations in public service and national institutions.