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Khloe, Kim Kardashian head to Armenia, meet with prime minister

Reality TV stars Khloe Kardashian, left, and Kim Kardashian, second left, are seen listening to Armenia's prime minister during a meeting Thursday in Yerevan in this photo released by the Armenian Government Press Service.

Reality TV stars Khloe Kardashian, left, and Kim Kardashian, second left, are seen listening to Armenia’s prime minister during a meeting Thursday in Yerevan in this photo released by the Armenian Government Press Service.

(Tigran Mehrabyan / AFP / Getty Images)
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The Kardashians have gone back to their roots -- and we’re not talking about hair color. Members of the reality TV clan made their way to their native Armenia on Wednesday to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian genocide.

“Armenia we are here! We’re so grateful to be here & start this journey of a lifetime! Thank u everyone who greeted us,” Kim Kardashian tweeted on Wednesday, adding, “I can’t wait to explore our country and have some yummy food! #MyDadAndGrandParentsWouldBeSoProud”

The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star, who is half-Armenian on her father’s side, touched down in the capital of Yerevan on Wednesday to exultant crowds.

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The 34-year-old was accompanied by her younger sister Khloe Kardashian, rapper-husband Kanye West, daughter North and members of their glam squad.

“The love and welcoming to Armenia has been overwhelmingly beautiful!!!” Khloe wrote on Instagram. “I wholeheartedly, can’t believe all of you Angels who are outside our hotel with flowers and smiles. Im incredibly eager to get some sleep and see Armenia in the day light! I hope I’m able to sleep. I’m so excited to be here!!”

On Thursday, the high-profile reality stars were received by Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan himself, and the summit was recapped on the government website. (Yes, their visit was that big of a deal.)

“Welcoming the guests, the Premier hailed [the] Kardashian family’s contribution to the cause of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, highlighting their visit’s importance in the run-up to the Genocide Centennial,” the website said.

Indeed, the the daughters of late O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Kardashian have been outspoken on the Armenian genocide, which occurred between 1915 and 1918 in the Ottoman Empire, which became the modern republic of Turkey. The Turkish government disputes that a genocide took place.

The women said that “they would continue to actively fight for the recognition and condemnation” of the genocide and “emphasized the need for all Armenians to rally to the cause.”

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The Kardashians were accompanied by their paternal cousins Kara and Kourtni, and were offered forget-me-not flowers to symbolize the centennial, which will be observed on April 24.

Abrahamyan said that the family “never forgot their ethnic roots, trying to render the homeland more recognizable by paying visits like this.”

However, they reportedly apologized for not speaking the language -- though they said they were trying to learn the native tongue.

Also on Thursday, the reality stars took in historical sites as they aimed to rediscover their heritage and ancestral land.

“Visiting the Mother Armenia statue today in Yerevan,” Khloe captioned a photo in front of the landmark on Thursday. “The Mother Armenia statue symbolizes peace through strength. It can remind viewers of some of the prominent female figures in Armenian history. Who took up arms to help their husbands in their clashes with Turkish troops and Kurdish irregulars. I am woman hear me roar! Blessed to be here!!!”

While their momager Kris Jenner did not join them on the trip, she did give a nod to her daughters’ heritage by posting a picture of the Kardashian family tree on Instagram.

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Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.

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