Russia ready to boost military ties with Iraq

Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that his country is ready to boost military-technical cooperation with Iraq. "We are ready to develop cooperation in other spheres, including the military-technical one," the foreign minister said at a news conference in Baghdad where he is now on a visit to Iraq. Lavrov also said that during his visit, he would relay a message from the Russian president to Iraqi Prime Minister Nour Al Maliki. Lavrov who arrived here earlier today for an official visit to iraq will hold talks over oil and arms supplies with the Iraqi president and foreign minister on Tuesday, reported the Russian Ria Novosti news agency . "It is planned to discuss the possible participation of Russian companies in the realization of various projects in Iraq, including agriculture, water management, transport, exploration and other spheres," the Russian foreign Ministry said. The talks will also focus on the wave of anti-government protests that has swept the Middle East and North Africa since the beginning of the year.