Russia to discuss Iraq in OIC summit

Moscow, June 16 (UNI) Russia will discuss the plight of its nationals in Iraq at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Baku, the capital of former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan on June 19-21.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov will represent Russia at the summit which is expected to discuss the topical international issues, including West Asia, having in view the current situation in Iran and Iraq.

Currently, Russia has the observer status in the OIC, which it received at the session of the 32nd summit of OIC Foreign Ministers in Saana (Yemen) on June 30, 2005.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had participated in the summit of the OIC heads in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur in October 2003 as a special guest.

Mr Denisov told Interfax news agency today that Russia's cooperation with Iraq will grow after the improvement in the security situation in the country and guarantee of secure conditions for the Russian experts and diplomats.

''We have always had significant interests there, and when the issues of guaranteeing security of foreign experts are resolved the cooperation will begin to grow,'' he said, referring to the recent incident of kidnapping Russian diplomats in Baghdad in which one diplomat was killed and four others were abducted by unidentified gunmen.

Mr Putin had yesterday called on the international community to help free the Russian diplomats.

The OIC which has condemned the kidnapping as a crime against humanity and Islam, has pledged assistance in securing the diplomats' release.

UNI XC PR ND1820