MOSCOW, November 11. The parliamentary delegation of Iraq at the meeting with Chairman of state Duma Committee on international Affairs Alexei Pushkov called for the strengthening of action of the international coalition against “Islamic state” (ISIS, a terrorist organization banned in Russia) in Iraq. About this Pushkov told TASS.
The members of the delegation stressed that “in fact, Syria and Iraq are a land on which no natural obstacles in the form of mountains or rivers, and in fact, the challenge of fighting ISIL (formerly ISIS) based in Syria and Iraq, otherwise, if the forces ISIS will be defeated in Syria then they can easily through the deserted areas to move to Iraq and find asylum,” Pushkov said.
Therefore, the Iraqi parliamentarians pointed out that “an operation is needed not only in Syria, but serious intensification of the international coalition, which declares that it will fight against ISIL and in Iraq,” he said.
Pushkov said that both parties recorded that “in Russia, and in Iraq itself there is no clarity on how the USA seriously interested in the fight against ISIL”. “Because until very recently, the so-called international coalition led by the USA behaved extremely passively and inertly in relation to military action against ISIL,” said the MP. This, naturally, causes concern, first of all, the Iraqi side, because four provinces of Iraq and a number of major towns captured by is, he said.
“Operation HQs of the Russian Federation in Syria raised the morale of the Iraqi army”
The members of the delegation, according to Pushkov, noted that the operation HQs of the Russian Federation in Syria raised the morale of the Iraqi army, which was demoralized after the attack the militants last summer.
The head of the delegation, Chairman of the Committee for security and defense of the chamber of deputies Iraq, Hakim al-Zamili stressed that in Iraq “welcomed Russia’s actions in Syria and that, according to the Iraqi figures, managed to destroy a significant number of terrorists in Syria,” Pushkov said. “The Russian military operation fundamentally changed the balance of power in this country”, – stated the Russian parliamentarian, the words of his colleague.
SPECIAL project
From Russia with support
As the aircraft of the Russian Federation helps to fight with terrorists in Syria
“In addition, it was emphasized that as a result of Russia’s actions in Syria has raised the spirit of the Iraqi army, which was quite low after the summer onset of the IG and especially after the loss of a major three-million city of Mosul”, – said Pushkov. According to him, Iraqi parliamentarians noted that the success of Russian military operations had a very positive impact on morale and the mood in the Iraqi army, so that the operation of the Russian Federation has consequences for the balance of power in Iraq.
“The Iraqi side expressed a very strong interest in military-technical cooperation with Russia, stressing that the Iraqi officers and soldiers are familiar with Russian weapons and military-technical cooperation with Russia is very important for strengthening the security of Iraq,” he said Pushkov.
Interest in investing
Also, he said, “there was a conversation about the opportunities, from the point of view of safety, there are Russian companies for action in Iraq”. “It is clear that in conditions when up to a third of the country’s territory controlled by ISIL, the question arises how it is possible to conduct investment and economic activity in the country”, – said Pushkov.
He noted that the representatives of Iraq “insisted that the nine provinces of Iraq are absolutely safe for investment and economic activity, and offered to Russian companies, following those that are already working in Iraq – to examine the possibilities for more active participation in investing in the Iraqi economy”.
“ISLAMIC STATE”
“Islamic state” (ISIS) – an Islamist terrorist organization operating inside Iraq and Syria. Established on 15 October 2006 by the merger of 11 radical Sunni groups. The core group forming the militants, who fought with American troops during their stay in Iraq and with the forces of the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
The IG recognized as a terrorist organization in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, UAE, India, Indonesia, and Russia (29 December 2014).
