MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is ready to work closely with the new Iraqi government and provide assistance to stabilize the country, the Foreign Ministry's official spokesman said Monday.
"We are ready for close cooperation with the new Iraqi government to strengthen further traditionally friendly Russian-Iraqi relations, provide the necessary assistance to normalize the situation in the country as soon as possible and ensure its stable social and economic development," Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.
On May 20, the Iraqi parliament confirmed the composition of a new national unity government, headed by Nouri al-Maliki.
"This is certainly an important event in Iraq's political life, concluding the transitional period of establishing bodies of constitutional power," Kamynin said. He said al-Maliki's government would "have to address complicated problems with which the country enters a new stage of its history."
Iraq has been hit by a series of terrorist attacks in the last three days. A bomb exploded in eastern Baghdad Saturday, killing 19 and wounding 36 people. Another explosive device left 13 dead and 18 wounded in a Baghdad restaurant Sunday.
"We hope the new government will be able to develop a national program to overcome the prolonged crisis soon, restore law and order and security, ensure economic growth and increase people's living standards," Kamynin said.
