The Iraqi and Russian foreign ministers are discussing in Baghdad strengthening bilateral relations, and revealing that the Iraqi-Russian joint committee will meet this year to discuss Russia’s debts to Iraq.
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Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at a joint press conference in Baghdad (AFP)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said, “There are ancient historical relations between Russia and Iraq, and ties in the military, security and economic fields,” adding that “there is an effective role for Russian oil companies to invest and work in the oil and gas sector, including Luk-El.”
Hussein added, in a joint press conference with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, today, Monday, in Baghdad, that “these companies have dues on the Iraqi side, and we studied how to deal with these dues in light of the sanctions imposed on Russia, and protect Iraqi banks from these sanctions.”
He also indicated that “the Iraqi-Russian joint committee, which met a year ago, will meet this year in Baghdad to discuss the work of Russian companies and their dues on Iraq.”
Hussein added, “During our visit to Washington next Wednesday, we will discuss this problem with the American side, because there are sanctions, and they should not be imposed on the Iraqi side, and we must cooperate with effective Russian companies in Iraq.”
Lavrov: The West wants to impose its hegemony and suppress any independence
In turn, Lavrov said, “We support Iraq’s position in calling for peace,” adding that “Iraq knows the value of reaching peace in Ukraine, and we appreciate that.”
Lavrov explained that “the crisis in Ukraine cannot be compared with other crises, while we remember the tragic war once morest Iraq and Libya,” noting that “no one denounced that approach.”
He believed that “the West wants to impose its hegemony and suppress any independence,” noting that “the policy of the United States ignores the commitments of the United Nations.”
Lavrov also affirmed “Russia’s continued support for Iraq,” and said: “We continue with the Iraqis to review issues that need a solution, such as the Palestinian issue, and the endeavor to establish an independent Palestinian state.”
Yesterday, Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the arrival of Lavrov, at the head of a high-ranking delegation, to Baghdad on an official visit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani, during a phone call, in November 2022, bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, and a number of regional and international files of common interest.
In the context of Russian-Iraqi cooperation, the President of the Russian Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, called, earlier, to raise the issue of the “Colin Powell test tube” that led to the invasion of Iraq, at the United Nations once more, noting that “this crime does not have a statute of limitations.” .
