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Iraqi PM arrives on Russia visit despite warning of "some forces"

Russia's leadership and Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will be discussing military-technical cooperation and the turbulent situation in the Middle East

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Alexander Astafyev/TASS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

© Alexander Astafyev/TASS

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MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has arrived on a visit to Russia despite the warning of "some forces" against the trip, he said at the meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.

"We have arrived in Russia despite the recommendations of some forces to abandon the trip," he said.

"We highly appreciate the relations with Russia and believe that they are promising and our visit directly proves this," the prime minister stressed. "We are set to develop ties in all the areas, including the military and technical cooperation, economic cooperation and the oil and gas sphere," he said.

The Iraqi prime minister congratulated Medvedev and all the Russian people with the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, "the Victory over the fascist and Nazi forces."

He expressed hope that the sides "will be able to gain victory by joint efforts over the new forces that are like those that you have defeated." He explained that these are first of all the terrorism threats.

Kremlin finds Mideast situation worrisome, Putin to discuss it with Iraqi PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will be discussing military-technical cooperation and the turbulent situation in the region on Thursday.

"It is a good opportunity for exchanging opinions on the situation in the region," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about the agenda of the meeting due later in the day. "The situation is very turbulent and alarming. Of course, it will be discussed."

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According to the Kremlin official the talks will be held first in the narrow format and then in an expanded one. No documents are due to be signed.

While speaking about the current condition of Russia-Iraq relations Peskov noted growing trade, which currently stands at about 1.8 billion dollars.

"Slowly but surely cooperation is being resumed between such fundamental institutions as an inter-governmental commission for trade, economic and scientific-technological cooperation. We cooperate well in the energy industry, too," he said.

As far as military-technical cooperation is concerned, this theme "features on the agenda, too," Peskov avoided disclosing any details adding that this aspect of negotiations would be closed to the media.

According to earlier reports, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is scheduled to hold talks with his Iraqi counterpart, too. Trading and economic cooperation will be discussed, the prime minister’s press-service said.

"In the course of the negotiations Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will discuss steps to perfect the regulatory basis of bilateral relations, stronger ties in education and culture and other themes of mutual interest," the government’s press-service has said.

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Foreign policy Iraq

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