Iraq and the Russian Federation stressed the need to sign a land and sea transport agreement this year, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the start of relations between the two countries. A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Iraqi Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Haider Mansour Al-Athari, received the Russian Minister Undersecretary of Transport, Dmitry Stanislavovich Azverev, at the Iraqi Embassy building in Moscow, in the presence of the official in charge of land, air and sea transport at the Russian Ministry of Transport, Alexander Shatalin, and the two sides discussed future steps to sign agreements that enhance the interests of the two friendly countries. The Russian side expressed its appreciation for the approval of the Iraqi Prime Minister's office of the draft agreement, stressing his country's readiness to follow up and study the draft project and move forward towards signing the agreement, noting that Iraq's distinguished geographical location makes it a global transportation corridor. The two sides also discussed, according to the statement, ways of cooperation in the field of transportation in general and land transportation in particular, as the Russian side expressed its readiness to train Iraqi cadres at the Russian Transport Academy, and to receive Iraqi students wishing to study at the academy. The possibility of twinning between Iraqi and Russian universities was also discussed, and cooperation agreements were concluded between them. Regarding cooperation in the field of land transportation, the Russian side expressed its interest in establishing railway lines within the "Development Road" project, and participating in investment opportunities in various fields of transportation in Iraqi cities, especially in the field of railways. The two sides stressed, according to the statement, the necessity of signing a land and sea transport agreement during this year, which coincides with the eightieth anniversary of the start of Iraqi-Russian relations. Source: National Iraqi News Agency