Russian, Iraqi officials discuss US sanctions
(6 Feb 2023) IRAQ RUSSIA SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS RESTRICTION SUMMARY: LENGTH: 2:35 ASSOCIATED PRESS Baghdad, Iraq - 6 February 2023 1. Various of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein shaking hands 2. Various of meeting between Iraqi and Russian delegations 3. Iraqi and Russian flags at news conference hall 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fuad Hussein, Iraqi foreign minister: "In our upcoming visit to Washington on Wednesday, we will discuss this issue with the American side. We say we will raise this issue with the American side because there are sanctions, and these sanctions should not be imposed on the Iraqi side as cooperation with Russian companies is ongoing. There are efficient Russian companies in Iraq." 5. Russian and Iraqi flags 6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister: "Our oil companies have very serious investments here and far-reaching plans with their Iraqi partners. Over $13 billion have already been invested. And, of course, under the conditions of illegal restrictions imposed by the Americans and their satellites, it is fundamentally important to protect legitimate economic relations from illegal pressure from the West." 7. Meeting between Iraqi and Russian officials 8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fuad Hussein, Iraqi foreign minister: "We are against wars, but we are also calling for a ceasefire under the initiative that was launched by a group of countries, with the representatives of Iraq playing a role in this initiative by establishing the Arabic Contact group between the Russian and Ukrainian parties. We have tried to create discussions in this area, and we are still trying. We support a ceasefire, so that talks between the two parties can begin, and in order to end this global crisis through dialogue and peaceful talks." 9. Hussein and Lavrov leaving news conference STORYLINE: Iraq's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart met in Baghdad on Monday and talked about sanctions on Russian companies and the efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said his country should not be affected by the U.S. sanctions on Russian companies because there are many such companies operating in Iraq. "These sanctions should not be imposed on the Iraqi side as cooperation with Russian companies is ongoing," he said. Hussein added that he will discuss the matter during his coming visit to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. He spoke at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in Iraq on Sunday. "Under the conditions of illegal restrictions imposed by the Americans and their satellites, it is fundamentally important to protect legitimate economic relations from illegal pressure from the West," Lavrov said. Since the start of the fighting in Ukraine roughly one year ago, the U.S., EU and allied countries have hit Russia with a slew of sanctions aimed at bank and financial transactions, technology imports and regime-connected individuals. Russia’s vast oil reserves and trade ties with China and India have thus far largely cushioned it from Western sanctions. Lavrov said Russian companies have "very serious investments" in Iraq worth over $13 billion. Western leaders are walking a fine line between trying to cut Russia’s oil income and preventing an oil shortage that would cause a price spike and worsen the inflation plaguing economies and hurting consumers worldwide. The one year mark of the Feb. 24. invasion, which has rattled the world economy, is nearing. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
