Russian foreign minister in Baghdad to discuss issues of common interest

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov started Thursday a visit to Baghdad aiming at discussing regional issues with senior Iraqi officials, Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement stated that the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosyar Zibari had received Lavrov in the morning in Baghdad International Airport.

“Lavrov visit is aimed at counselling and discussing issues of common interest in the region with senior government officials,” the statement said.

It is expected that developments in Syria, which has 600km borders with Iraq, would dominate the Iraqi-Russian discussions.

Russia has been seen as one of the most supporters of the Syrian regime headed by President Bashar al-Assad. Iraq is also a prominent supporter for this regime and it is against arming the oppositions, fearing this would undermine security in the region, which has been in upheaval for three years.

The last visit for Lavrov to Baghdad was on May, 2011.