With the overthrow of Saddam Hussein began an exodus of Armenians from Iraq.

About 10 thousands of parishioners of the Armenian Apostolic Church (ARMENIANS) emigrated from Iraq over the past few years, Primate of the ARMENIAN Diocese of Iraq Masis Shahinyan said, reported Baghdad TV channel Al-Samaria.

Noting that the Armenians have lived in the territory of modern Iraq, and is currently the largest communities live in Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk and Basra, Bishop Shahinyan noted that since 2003, the security situation and economic problems, their number has decreased significantly. According to the Primate, currently there are no more than 15-16 thousand Armenians, while in 2003, their number exceeded 25 thousand people.

Recall that the first Armenian Church was opened in Baghdad in 1640. The Armenian community in Iraq has increased markedly in the early 20 's. the last century by refugees, survivors of the genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. Now she is in obvious decline-the new authorities are unable to provide basic safety, local Christians, including the Armenians.