Russia to support Iraq in bolstering its defence potential - Lavrov

MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. Russia will continue to provide support to Iraq to bolster its defence potential and to ensure its territorial integrity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. "Iraq’s foreign minister has informed us in detail on the situation in the country repelling the terrorist attack," Lavrov said. "We have confirmed our solidarity with the friendly country and our determination to provide support for bolstering the country’s defence potential, for ensuring its territorial integrity and for preventing external interference." "We have confirmed our support to Iraq’s efforts on promoting a nationwide dialogue and national reconciliation," he said. "We agree that the fight against terrorism in those regional countries is top priority." "We exchanged opinions about developments in Syria and Yemen from this point of view," the Russian foreign minister said. "And in both cases a nationwide dialogue should be promoted on a sustainable basis, parallel to stepping up counter-terrorism efforts." "We share a joint opinion that the state of affairs in the Palestine-Israeli settlement arouses a deep concern," he said. "The negotiation process should avoid a complete break and we will try to help achieve these goals." Read more