How should conflicts be resolved without sanctions and military operations? The head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed this in Iraq today. Sergei Lavrov visited Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. The visit was held in view of the disturbances that have been going on in Iraq for a week.
Aleksandr Yevstigneyev reports on Lavrov's discussion with Iraq's authorities.
Sergei Lavrov's motorcade left the airport under reinforced security. Baghdad is engulfed with political turmoil, but it wasn't an excuse to cancel the visit. By the way, Moscow and Baghdad established diplomatic relations exactly 75 years ago. The international agenda hasn't gotten milder over these years.
Sergei Lavrov: "We discussed specific tasks of deepening our counter-terrorism cooperation, using our bilateral channels as well as the Information Center of Baghdad founded in 2015, with the help of experts from Iraq, Russia, Syria, and Iran".
Mohammad Ali Alhakim, Minister of Foreign Affairs: "Mr. Lavrov and I think that we must further develop Russian-Iraqi relations and continue cooperation in both regional and international political issues".
Next — meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq Adil Abdul-Mahdi, who's having a rough time. He must think of proper words and actions to calm the national turmoil. Economic development needs investments. Iraq is ready to cooperate.
A simple yet visual example of closer cooperation between the two states, which was discussed here, in the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Iraq will simplify the visa granting procedure for Russians, both tourists and businessmen who'd like to work there.
Big Russian companies have worked in Iraq for a long time. Military technology, restoration of infrastructure, power engineering, hydrocarbons. For example, Gazprom Neft extracted 100 million barrels of oil in the Badra reservoir, as well as associated gas for the local power industries. In the Kurdistan Region — 21 million barrels in the Sarqala reservoir. What's more — it was all done as part of concessions with Western partners.
Aleksandr Dyukov, CEO Gazprom Neft: "We're planning to further invest there as well as in new projects. For example, after we'd assessed the development of the Al Mansouryah gas reservoir, we made a decision to take part in a tender".
Moscow and Baghdad are planning on extending relations in economy, trade, and diplomacy. It was discussed during the visit on all levels.
Sergei Lavrov met the Speaker of Iraqi Parliament and the President of Iraq in the presidential palace. The next meeting was in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region. The key role there belongs to the Barzani tribe. Massoud Barzani was friends with Yevgeny Primakov. He's still grateful to him for supporting the Kurds. Sergei Lavrov met with 3 most authoritative members of the Barzani tribe that rules Kurdistan.
Aleksandr Yevstigneyev, Olga Khorinova, Aleksey Kalach, Vesti, Baghdad.
