MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. The visiting speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Salim al-Jabouri, hailed on Monday Russia’s role in the Middle East.

"We value this participation in events in the region, and thank Russia for this," he said at talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

He also said that as a result of the development of events in the Middle East over the past few years, Iraq has acquired particular importance for the situation in the region, expressing gratitude to Russia for understanding this role.

"We are ready for working out with your assistance mechanisms that would help in the development of our country in the future," he said at talks with Lavrov.

The speaker also said that at the moment Iraq remained the main front in countering terrorism. "In spite of all this, we have managed to return to a dialogue aimed at political reconciliation. We hope to continue moving in this direction," he said.

Russia is ready to extend political and financial support to Iraq in its fight against terrorism in the interests of the country’s territorial integrity, Sergey Lavrov said at talks with the Iraqi speaker.

"We confirm solidarity with the Iraqi people in fight against this evil and readiness to support you politically, morally and of course financially," he said. "Our position is invariable: we will keep doing all to help preserve independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq," the top diplomat said.

The speaker of the Iraqi parliament thanked Russia for help in anti-terrorist fight, including military, technical and humanitarian assistance.