UPDATE - Russian Foreign Minister, Iraq's New President Discuss Bilateral Cooperation - Moscow

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd November, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iraq's new President Barham Salih discussed bilateral cooperation as well as various international issues during their meeting in Rome, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"During the conversation, a keen exchange of views took place on a wide range of topical issues on the international and regional agenda ... The key aspects of Russian-Iraqi cooperation were also touched upon," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that Russia reaffirmed its unwavering support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, as well as the idea that intra-Iraqi problems and disagreements should only be resolved by the Iraqis themselves as part of an inclusive national dialogue that takes into account the interests of all ethnic and religious groups of Iraqi society.

"The importance of actively using the resources of the intergovernmental Russian-Iraqi commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, the next eighth meeting of which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019 in Baghdad, was emphasized," the ministry added.

Lavrov also conveyed best wishes from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Salih.

"I would like to convey best wishes from Russian President Putin and to congratulate you again on my own behalf on assuming the office of president after the formation of new state structures based on general elections. We are very pleased that this process was successful, unlike in some other countries," Lavrov said, as quoted by the ministry.

Salih, who served as the prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan between 2009 and 2012 and is backed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), was elected Iraqi president by the country's parliament in the second round of voting on October 2.