Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Meets Russian President’s Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of Russian State Duma

The Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Abdul Karim Hasim met with the Russian President’s envoy to the Middle East and North Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Mikhail Bagdanov, and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Russian State Duma Mr. Leonid Slutsky.

During the meeting, several files of the two countries were discussed, including: the file of combating terrorism in the region, and the need to continue to coordinate joint efforts to eliminate terrorism in the eastern Euphrates regions.

The consultations also dealt on the issue of raising the level of trade cooperation between the two countries in a manner appropriate to the size of the historical ties that link Baghdad and Moscow.

Concerning the holding the meetings of the joint Iraqi-Russian committee for bilateral cooperation, Ambassador Abdul Karim stressed the importance of holding its meetings continuously, because of their great impact in increasing economic cooperation between the two countries, indicating the existence of an Iraqi desire to open new prospects in the field of trade cooperation with Moscow.

On his part, Mr. Mikhail Bagdanov emphasized the Russian government’s keenness to maintain bilateral relations with Iraq, explaining: that Moscow is following with great interest the developments in Iraq, including the formation of the new Iraqi government, indicating the Russian side’s aspiration to work with it in all fields, especially in the field of oil and energy, and expressed the desire of Russian companies to increase their investments in these two sectors.