"Russia-Iraq: Economic Cooperation" International Round-table Discussion Due In Moscow

Russia-Iraq: Economic cooperation" is the name of an international round-table discussion, which is held in Moscow on Monday under the aegis of the Committee on International Cultural, Scientific and Business Cooperation with Iraq. "The purpose of the round-table discussion is to consolidate the efforts of Russia's public, political and business circles to support the Russian president in his aspiration to protect the country's economic interests in Iraq," said a source in the organising committee. As agreed with Iraqi Vice Premier Tariq Aziz, the event is attended by an Iraqi governmental delegation headed by Abdel Razzak al-Hashimi, the President of the Iraqi Society of Friendship, Peace and Solidarity. The delegation consists of officials from the ministries of oil, industry, trade and agriculture. Among the Russian officials attending the discussion are representatives of the foreign ministry and a number of other ministries and departments, as well as the top officials of Russian companies functioning in Iraq. After the discussion, which is staged at the Moscow President Hotel, its participants will attend the awards ceremony of an all-Russia journalist competition called "Society. Politics. Economy. Culture," which was dedicated to Russian-Iraqi cooperation. The competition's first award goes to Alexander Konovalov, a special correspondent with RIA Novosti news agency.