Iraqi prime minister meets Putin, seeks to boost relations with Russia

Europe, Middle East May 21, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Perhaps sensing that his allies’ support for Iraq is weakening Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has flown to Moscow to try and renew the two countries previously warm relationship.

Immediately before he went in for talks with President Vladimir Putin Russia’s foreign minister announced Moscow was ready to resume arms sales to Baghdad.

Beyond expanding military co-operation al-Abadi is hoping the two oil exporters will find common economic cause, as well.

“We hope todays visit will help further the support and cooperation in the fight against terrorism not only in Iraq, but in the whole region,” he said.

Vladimir Putin appears willing to step in, not only with military and other aid, but also by investing. He said Russian companies were discussing investments worth “billions of dollars”.

“Iraq is a long-standing and reliable partner for us in the region. And notwithstanding problems in the world`s economy and problems in the regions, our relations are developing very successfully,” Putin said during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi at the Kremlin in Moscow.

He further noted that relations between the two countries have been developing “rather successfully” despite global economic complications and difficulties in the Middle East region.

“The overall trade turnover between Russia and Iraq may not be very big, but it has grown ten-fold in the past two years,” the Russian president said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also hailed strong Moscow-Baghdad ties, underlining growing trade with Iraq.

He emphasized that the volume of Russian investment in the Arab country stands at billions of dollars, adding that Moscow and Baghdad have been cooperating in both “civilian and military-technological fields.”

For his part, the Iraqi premier, said that his country seeks to boost relations with Russia in defense as well as oil and gas sectors.

He further expressed hope that his visit to Russia would help the fight against ISIS militants operating in Iraq and the region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (L) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, during their meeting in Moscow, May 21, 2015. (AFP)

Earlier in the day, Abadi held a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, during which he urged Moscow to further help the Arab country in the battle against the ISIS terrorists.

Abadi also stated that he decided to go ahead with his visit to Russia “despite recommendations by some forces to cancel this trip.”

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been in chaos since ISIL started its campaign of terror in early June 2014. The terrorists are in control of the city of Mosul, the second largest city of Iraq, and also the strategic city of Ramadi.

Since then, Iraq’s army has been joined by Kurdish forces, and Shia and Sunni volunteers in operations to flush ISIS terrorists out of the areas they have seized.