BAGHDAD – An Iraqi lawmaker says the Baghdad government is planning to senddelegations to Russia, China and Ukraine to discuss the procurement ofmodern air defense missile systems to protect its territory from anypossible act of aggression.
“The delegations intend to visit countries like Russia, China and Ukraineto negotiate the purchase of modern systems to protect Iraq’s airspace,”Badr al-Ziyadi, a member of the Parliamentary Security And DefenseCommittee, told Arabic-language al-Sabaah newspaperlink.
He added, “The Iraqi parliament is right now forming a joint executive andlegislative delegation to visit developed countries and sign contracts onprocuring advanced weapons.”
Ziyadi further noted that Iraqi lawmakers are looking into obtainingweapons in exchange for Iraqi oil shipments, similar to the “oil forreconstruction” agreement signed with China recently.[image: Iraq negotiating with Russia to buy S-300 missile system: Top Iraqilawmaker]link“Many nations have indicated [their] readiness to ship modern weapons toIraq in exchange for oil. This is the best way to ensure the shipment ofgood weapons to Iraq without corruption and bribery,” the lawmaker said.link
Ziyadi went on to say that the delegations would also hold talks overcompleting the installation of modern thermal imaging devices at theborder, which will help detect and prevent any terrorist infiltration.
“The inadequate arming of border forces with modern weapons was the resultof a mistake in relying on an agreement with the United States which spentenormous sums of money and never fully the finished [the project],” thelegislator highlighted.
“This is why the Iraqis must count on themselves and turn to the easternbloc to equip its army,” Ziyadi concluded.