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The Ambassador of Iraq in Moscow, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Hamid Al-Hussaini, met with the Russian Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr. Pavel Sorokin to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy (oil, gas, and electricity).

Ambassador Al-Hussaini stressed Iraq’s keenness to develop relations with the Russian Federation in the energy sector and provide support to Russian companies working in it, noting the importance of increasing Russian investments to serve the interests of the two friendly countries.

Ambassador Al-Hussaini stated that the embassy will support all Russian companies willing to work in Iraq, and will work to provide facilities with the responsible authorities in Iraq.

The two sides discussed the possibility of employing Iraqi graduates from universities with engineering specializations in the fields of energy in Russian companies operating in Iraq.

The two sides also discussed the dangers of the Coronavirus and its impact on the energy market, as well as bilateral cooperation on stabilizing oil prices in global markets.

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By John Lee.

Investment by Russian oil and gas companies in Iraq may increase three-fold, according to a report by Tass.

It quotes Russian politician Yury Fedorov [Nikolay Vasilyevich Fyodorov] as telling the Iraqi Ambassador to Russia, Abdul-Rahman Al-Husseini, that the total investment in Iraq by companies such as Lukoil, Bashneft and Gazprom Neft has exceeded $10 billion, and that this could triple.

"Our companies such as Zarubezhneft, Tatneft and Rosneftegaz also show a high degree of interest," he added.

(Source: Tass)

By Maggie Tennis and Strobe Talbott, for The Slate. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Hours before Iran launched a missile attack on U.S. troops in Iraq, Vladimir Putin visited Syria to huddle with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad over the mounting U.S.-Iran crisis.

Russia has repeatedly condemned the U.S. airstrikes that killed Iranian Major Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

It’s fair to assume that leaders in Moscow are seeking to turn the situation to their advantage.

Full report here.

By John Lee.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reportedly banned US carriers from flying in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The ban was imposed due to "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East, which present an inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations due to potential for miscalculation or misidentification”.

The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has reportedly issued a similar order.

(Source: Reuters)

The Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Moscow Meets with President of Russian-Iraqi Business Council and the Executive Director of the Council

The Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Moscow, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Husseini, met with the Chairman of the Russian-Iraqi Business Council Mr. Benderski Eduardo, and the Executive Director of the Council Mr. Maxim Meliakov.

The two sides discussed the remarkable positive development in the bilateral relations cooperation between Baghdad and Moscow, especially in the field of energy.

Ambassador Al-Husseini stressed Iraq’s desire to develop work in all fields, including: industry, agriculture, education, housing, water resources, and other sectors, revealing the existence of significant investment opportunities in Iraq, and expressed the readiness of the embassy to provide all facilities for investment of Russian companies and businessmen wanting a visit to Iraq.

The Ambassador called for holding meetings to discuss the results of the meetings of the joint Iraqi-Russian Committee, and the implementation of the items of the minutes of the Committee.

On his part, the President of the Russian-Iraqi Business Council stressed that the Council is exerting great efforts to develop relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields, revealing that the Council will study the problems and obstacles to overcome them.

The Executive Director of the Council explained that the Board was briefed on all investment opportunities adding that the Council is working closely with the Joint Committee to address the obstacles to enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

(Source: Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

On October 28, 2019 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Andrei Dapkiunas, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus non-resident, Haydar Mansour Hadi. The meeting was held on the occasion of the Ambassador's completion of his diplomatic mission.

The Deputy Minister expressed satisfaction with the results of the Ambassador’s activities in this capacity and noted his prominent role in the development of the whole range of Belarusian-Iraqi relations in recent years. The Belarusian diplomat particularly emphasized the importance of the personal contribution by H.M. Hadi to the solution of practical issues that directly concern citizens of both countries.

The Iraqi diplomat thanked for the high appreciation of his work and reiterated his intention to further contribute to the comprehensive development of bilateral relations between Belarus and Iraq.

During the discussion of the state and prospects of the Belarusian-Iraqi cooperation, the interlocutors reaffirmed their commitment to implement the agreements reached at the consultations between the foreign ministries of Belarus and Iraq in Minsk on September 11, 2019.

The sides highlighted the value of personal contacts at all levels of interstate cooperation for strengthening bilateral ties and agreed to maintain them.

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus)

Iraq is not discussing the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, Iraq’s ambassador to Russia has told Rudaw, following rumors Baghdad is in the market for such a system to counter recent Israeli airstrikes on Iraqi territory.

“There haven’t been and there aren’t any discussions or consultations between the Iraqi government and the Russian government concerning the acquisition of S-400 weapons,” the Iraqi ambassador said.

More here.

(Source: Rudaw)

(Picture: Соколрус)

By Ruslan Mamedov for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. 

A series of alleged Israeli strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq have sent shockwaves across the region and beyond. The attacks on Iraq in particular are unprecedented, with long-term effects yet to be revealed.

The immediate effect, however, is that both the general public and the elites of Middle East nations have raised the need to protect their skies more effectively. Currently, air defense systems are hindered by more than a lack of innovative equipment.

They are also hindered by their overdependence on external powers, especially the United States. Shortly after the strikes, it didn’t take long for Russia to move closer to Iraq in terms of military-technical cooperation.

Click here to read the full story.

(Picture credit: Соколрус)