Russian diplomat, Iraqi national security advisor discuss fight against ISIL, situation in Iraqi Kurdistan
MOSCOW. Oct 18 (Interfax) - The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, and the National Security Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Faleh al-Fayad, met on Wednesday to discuss the situations in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.
"During the conversation, the parties paid particular attention to the development of the situation in Iraq in the context of the ongoing major operation to eliminate the terrorist presence of ISIL [banned in Russia] and also the situation surrounding Iraqi Kurdistan," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the meeting.
Bogdanov reaffirmed Russia's "unwavering support of the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of friendly Iraq."
He "reaffirmed a principled position in favor of settling all internal Iraqi problems through an inclusive political dialogue, taking into account the interests of all ethnic and religious groups of the country," it said.
Faleh al-Fayad said, for his part, that "Baghdad highly praises Russia's consistent policy in Iraqi affairs and is determined to further strengthen interaction in fighting terrorism, including on the Syrian track."