BAGHDAD. May 10 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday for a working visit.
"The program of the visit includes meetings with Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari and leader of the Iraqi List political block Ayad Allawi," a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman told Interfax.
During his visit, Lavrov plans to discuss a set of topics with Iraqi officials, including cooperation in the energy sector, the spokesman said.
"We are satisfied with the way cooperation in the oil sphere has been developing. The company Lukoil [RTS: LKOH] has launched efforts to prepare for the exploration of the West Qurna 2 deposit, the start of oil extraction from which has been set for 2013. The company Gazprom Neft, for its part, is getting ready to explore the Badra oil field," he said.
"The sides also plan to discuss issues surrounding Russian companies' possible participation in implementing various projects in Iraq, including in agriculture, the water sector, transport, geological exploration and other areas," the spokesman said.
Military-technological cooperation will be addressed as well.
"Ways to promote military-technological cooperation between our countries will be discussed. The sides will also discuss measures to step up cooperation between all of the agencies involved, including the Interior Ministry, the Emergency Situations Ministry and others," the spokesman said.