Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, 20 April (KRG) - KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani welcomed Ambassador at Large Sergey Kirpichenko, and head of delegation Ambassador Vladimir Chamov, along with other officials of the Russian Federation.

The Russian delegation chose Erbil as their first stop in Iraq and were pleased to see the economic progress that has been achieved in the Kurdistan Region. Among the political issues that were discussed were the establishment of a federal government of national unity in Baghdad, and the bilateral relations that had existed at a much earlier time.

Following the Russian Government's decision in Moscow to open consulates in Erbil and Basra, this visit finalized the arrangements. In keeping with the federal structure of Iraq, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani welcomed the initiative and offered his full support.

Along with the presence of KRG representative offices abroad, Prime Minister Barzani affirmed that with this initiative social, cultural, and economic relations would improve mutual understanding, peace, and prosperity between the Kurdistan Region and the Russian Federation.