Moscow and Bagdad satisfied with cooperation — Russian ambassador to Iraq

The Russian and Iranian sides are satisfied with the level of cooperation between Moscow and Bagdad, which has been developing among others on the basis of the contracts the countries signed in 2013-2014, Russia’s Ambassador to Iraq Ilya Morgunov said in an interview with the Izvestia daily.
“Many contracts were signed in 2013, and several more - in the current year. The work will be based on them. I can only say that both countries should be satisfied with the cooperation,” the Russian ambassador said answering the question, whether more supplies of Russian armoury besides the Sukhoi-25 fighters were expected.
In late June, the Russian Foreign ministry informed the supplies of Su-25 to Iraq were finalised and were made under earlier contracts.
The ambassador assured the daily there was no threat the Islamists could attack the Russian oil companies working in Iraq, as “their businesses are in the south of the country, where the station is quiet.”
However, in Iraq “continues war, including the information war, where lies are published often,” “the front is not in a line, as the terrorists could not survive the frontal strike against them at 100-120 kilometres from Bagdad.” “Now,” the Russian ambassador said, “the federal forces are chasing small bandit groups of terrorists, who have chosen the tactics of guerrilla war, and the latter may last for many years.”
The diplomat did not rule out the militants of the Islamic State group may capture Jordan. “The threat is real as nobody can predict what is in heads of those people.”

In Iraq, the ambassador said, presently live several hundred Russians, including those working under contracts and wives of local residents. The biggest number of Russians in Iraq is wives and children of local people. However, evacuation of Russian citizens has not been organized following the attacks from Islamists.
“Now is the holy month of Ramadan, and the life in the country has stopped. Then will come August - a dead season with heat of above 50 degrees and humidity of 100% All Russian specialists are living the country at that time anyway.”
And later on, in September, the employing companies will decide upon the situation whether their employees should return in Iraq. The same approach is applicable for staff of our diplomatic missions, the Russian ambassador to Iraq said.