Russian Ambassador in Iraq meets with senior Kurdistan Region officials
ERBIL, (Kurdistan 24) – The Russian Ambassador to Iraq and an accompanying delegation visited the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday to discuss Moscow-Erbil relations with senior Kurdistan officials.
Maksim Maksimov, the Ambassador of Russia to Iraq, accompanied by Russian Consul General in Erbil, head of Erbil’s Gazprom, and general director of Gazprom Neft Middle East Sergei Petrov met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil.
According to a KRG statement, both sides discussed all aspects of relations between the Kurdistan Region and Russia and praised the developments regarding ties between Erbil and Baghdad.
Prime Minister Barzani said the government and the people of Kurdistan pay special attention to their relations with Russia, expressing the KRG’s readiness to develop relations on all aspects especially the economic ties, the statement said.
The Russian Ambassador also expressed his condolences and those of Russia to the Kurdistan Prime Minister following the passing of his brother Dilovan Barzani.
In another meeting, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani received Maksimov and an accompanying delegation where they discussed the state of bilateral relations and other regional issues.
Both sides emphasized the need “to enhance the Kurdistan Region-Russia relationship, including political and economic relations,” a statement on the KRSC website read.
Chancellor Barzani and Maksimov also spoke about “the deep historic ties that the people of [the] Kurdistan Region and Russia share.”
Met Russian Ambassador Maksim Maksimov — talks focused on the Kurdistan Region-Russia relationship, renewed bid to unite ranks in KR and dangers of ISIL's resurgence in Anbar, Kirkuk and Mosul. Readout: https://t.co/0RAkyCOLwP pic.twitter.com/KpKRnQcx6X
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) April 10, 2018
In another meeting, former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani received the Russian delegation where bilateral relations and the latest political developments in the region were discussed.
Both sides referred “to the historic relations between Russia and Kurdistan and how those relations remain part of the Kurdish memory,” a press release on his website read.
According to the readout, Maksimov conveyed a special greeting from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the Kurdish leader.
The Russian Ambassador also expressed his country’s readiness to continue to share positive relations, and for Russian companies working in the Kurdistan Region to expand their work in the oil and economy sectors.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany