Iraq Wants to Develop Ties With Russia in All Areas – PM Abadi

Russian companies aid Iraq in the spheres of military-technical development, oil, investments and in the training of specialists, Haider Abadi said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Iraq is seeking to develop cooperative relations with Russia in all spheres, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi said during his Thursday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

"The relations between Russia and Iraq are strong, they are based on old traditions and we seek to develop them in all areas… including in investments and facilitation of the work of Russian companies in our country," Abadi said.

He added that Russian companies "aid" Iraq in the spheres of military-technical cooperation, oil, investments and in the training of specialists.

Abadi noted that his country continues its fight against terrorism and even though Baghdad has already regained control over a "significant part of its country's territory," the threat of the Islamic State terrorist group’s advancement still hangs over the government.

"We would like it very much for today's visit to help the case of further support, strengthening cooperation regarding the fight against terrorism. Not only in Iraq but in the whole region," Abadi said.

Earlier on Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin and Abadi were to discuss issues including military-technical cooperation and the situation in the Middle East.