BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has received an official invitation from the Russian president to visit Moscow later this month to discuss arming Iraq for its war on terrorism, Iraq’s government spokesman said Sunday.
Saad al-Hadithi said that Abadi will discuss relations between Baghdad and Moscow in all aspects, but most importantly, “They will talk about armaments and Russia’s help in security and the terrorism challenge.”
“The other topic would be about investment and the entry of Russian companies in rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure and their active role in the oil and power industry,” al-Hadithi told the Al Arabiya TV.
The Iraqi prime minister received the invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his recent visit to Baghdad.
Iraq and Russia have a $4.2 billion outstanding arms deal that was signed by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki on a visit to Moscow in 2012.
The deal was put on hold amid a corruption and bribery scandal involving senior Iraqi defense officials.
However, Russia Today reported last year that Baghdad and Moscow have agreed to resume the deal, through which Russia would supply Iraq with 48 Pantsir-S1 short-to-medium-range air defense systems and 28 Mil Mi-28NE strike helicopters.
The announcement of the invitation to Abadi comes at a time when the US congress is studying a bill that would authorize the direct supply of arms to the Kurds without going via the central government in Baghdad.
Last summer, after Islamic State (ISIS) occupied a third of Iraq in a lightning attack, Moscow quickly delivered five Sukhoi-25 fighter jets bought by Baghdad second hand from Russia.
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