South Kurdistan president Massoud Barzani to visit Russia ne
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 1:13 pmERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani will officially visit Russia in November next, as reported by the statement of the regional government in Erbil.
The statement added that the visit comes by an official invitation by Russian President Vladimir Putin, "but has nothing with Premier Nouri l-Maliki's late visit to Moscow".
Iraqi premier Maliki visited Moscow at the beginning of this month, where military contracts were signed with an amount of more than 4 billion dollars.
In the Czech Republic, Maliki made an additional purchase of 28 L-159 jets for $1 billion.
Some of Iraq's neighbors and the Kurdish president Massoud Barzani, have said they are worried about Baghdad acquiring the jets.
"I feel Kurdistan's future is in severe danger because of (Maliki)," Barzani said in April 2012. "F-16 (jets) should not reach the hands of this man (Maliki)."
Barzani alleged that Maliki had discussed using F-16s against Kurdistan during a meeting with military officers.
"During a military meeting, they talked about problems between Baghdad and Erbil ," Barzani said.
"They told him, 'Sir, just give us the authority, and we would kick them out of Erbil ,'" Barzani said. "And (Maliki) answered: 'Wait until the arrival of the F-16.'"
The central government and the Kurdish region have long-running disputes over political autonomy, oil rights and contested territories.
Sources: Ekurd.net | Reuters | aswataliraq.info | Agencies
Copyright © 2012 Ekurd.net. All rights reserved
The statement added that the visit comes by an official invitation by Russian President Vladimir Putin, "but has nothing with Premier Nouri l-Maliki's late visit to Moscow".
Iraqi premier Maliki visited Moscow at the beginning of this month, where military contracts were signed with an amount of more than 4 billion dollars.
In the Czech Republic, Maliki made an additional purchase of 28 L-159 jets for $1 billion.
Some of Iraq's neighbors and the Kurdish president Massoud Barzani, have said they are worried about Baghdad acquiring the jets.
"I feel Kurdistan's future is in severe danger because of (Maliki)," Barzani said in April 2012. "F-16 (jets) should not reach the hands of this man (Maliki)."
Barzani alleged that Maliki had discussed using F-16s against Kurdistan during a meeting with military officers.
"During a military meeting, they talked about problems between Baghdad and Erbil ," Barzani said.
"They told him, 'Sir, just give us the authority, and we would kick them out of Erbil ,'" Barzani said. "And (Maliki) answered: 'Wait until the arrival of the F-16.'"
The central government and the Kurdish region have long-running disputes over political autonomy, oil rights and contested territories.
Sources: Ekurd.net | Reuters | aswataliraq.info | Agencies
Copyright © 2012 Ekurd.net. All rights reserved
