MOSCOW. Sept 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The sovereign rights of the people of Iraq need to be strictly observed when making a decision on the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Iraq, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said while meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari.
The ministers have met at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Friday.
Lavrov stressed Russia's firm stance on the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. "In such a context, he said a decision on the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, on the dates of which Iraq and the U.S. have generally agreed, should be made on the basis of strict observance of the sovereign rights of the people of Iraq," the report said.
The ministers spoke in favor of intensifying the relations between the two countries, including in the energy sphere. "They agreed on the steps that need to be made by both sides in order to give a new impetus to the development of interaction in various areas, including oil and gas, energy, etc.," the document says.
"The conversation also addressed issues relating to the stabilization of the situation in Iraq. The Russian minister spoke in favor of supporting the efforts taken by the Iraqi government, confirming the importance of specific steps aimed at reaching national accord and reconciliation in the interests of all Iraqis regardless of their political preferences, ethnic origin, or religious affiliation," says the report.