Baghdad seeks direct flight with Moscow, free-visa for diplomats, businessmen

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Haider Mansoor al-Ithari on Sunday met with a Russian official and discussed mechanisms to foster bilateral relations in the commercial and industrial fields.

During the meeting with the President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergey Katyrina, the ambassador expressed his support for Russian businessmen to invest in Iraq.

Ithari called for further cooperation between Baghdad and Moscow regarding commerce and industry, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry media office.

Additionally, the ambassador highlighted the embassy’s role in speeding up the process of opening a direct airline between Baghdad and Moscow.

Both sides also discussed signing an agreement between the Iraqi and Russian government “to cancel visas for diplomat and service passport holders” as well as businessmen.

The agreement would also grant them “multi visas for three years or five years.”

The ambassador mentioned the arrangements which were discussed would provide suitable circumstances of cooperation between both countries.

Katyrina noted Russian businessmen and corporations had many projects in Iraq in the past, but due to security issues in the country, companies faced great losses and were forced to withdraw.

He highlighted that Russian businessmen are willing to restore their investment and activities in the Iraqi market.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany