Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani arrived this morning in the Russian capital, Moscow, on an official visit.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 10-11 in Moscow on a two-day official visit. This will be the first official visit by Al-Sudani.

Russian-Iraqi discussions will be held, and the Russian President will also meet with al-Sudani during a working breakfast.

While Al-Sudani confirmed Iraq’s commitment to pay Russian dues within the Paris Club debt, hoping to reach an agreement between the two countries to pay them.

Al-Sudani added: “We can obtain an exception to pay these dues, because failure to pay them reduces Iraq’s credit rating. Russia also has investments in oil and military contracts. We hope that we will agree in the future on appropriate formulas to pay these dues.”

While Putin confirmed that he will discuss with the Iraqi Prime Minister security in the region and inside Iraq, stressing his confidence that the visit will be fruitful and come at the right time.

Moscow expressed its commitment to supporting the Development Road Project, a system of roads, railways and energy infrastructure that will connect the ports of the Middle East to Turkey, and from there to Europe, by saying: Baghdad’s interest is to diversify its economy to free itself from dependence on the oil sector, as confirmed by Igor Levitin, advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Al-Sudani and Putin will also participate together on October 11 in the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency