The Russian Embassy in Baghdad yesterday revealed that it was conducting intensive negotiations with the Iraqi government to provide weapons to the Iraqi army, as part of a cooperation agreement.
Also within the framework of this agreement, a delegation comprising 10 Russian companies will be visiting Iraq soon to discuss investment opportunities.
The Russian ambassador said that the arms discussion is to provide Iraq with the means to protect its air space, without providing details.
Iraq has already contracted to buy 140 Abrams tanks from the U.S. The first shipment of 11 tanks arrived recently at the port of um-Qasr, southern Iraq.
Source: Al-Rafidayn, September 16, 2010
