Report by Andrei Kolesnikov on the reception of Iraqi Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

On October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani in the Kremlin and spoke for the first time about what is happening now between Israel and Palestine. Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov believes that this is the case when it would be possible to tell it like it is.

The Iraqi prime minister’s trip to Moscow was planned more than a month in advance. Nevertheless, everything turned out as if on purpose: it was timed right for the super-dramatic events in Israel and Palestine.

The first to sit decorously in the Representative Office were members of the Russian delegation: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Assistant to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Peskov, founder and shareholder of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov (which is clearer than everything else, or rather, the rest ). The only thing missing was the head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin. But if he came in with everyone else… No, that wouldn’t be his style.

Igor Sechin appeared in the room a few minutes before the start of the negotiations, and, of course, from the same door from which Vladimir Putin was supposed to leave. Nothing like that… Moreover, nothing personal… But just to make everything clear… Particularly in demand…

And everything became clear once again. At least that Igor Sechin was called for the last consultations regarding these negotiations and that they ended. And someone gave some instructions. Who, to whom and which ones, just to understand.

Meanwhile, journalists were also located in the Representative Office. The sound engineers were debugging the sound on a small table near the decorative fireplace (Many people think it’s real. No, whatever.): they were asked to check it just in case.

“124, 125, 126…,” the sound engineer counted out doomedly, as usual.

Yes, something so hopeless in these sounds is heard every time… And what difference does it make, they say, how much… Yes, you want – consider it yourself…

But there was one caring person here in the room. He became agitated at the sound of the sound engineer’s voice:

“And 127?..” Sergei Lavrov asked nervously.

The action seemed unfinished to him. Apparently, it was necessary to count to at least 130.

Photojournalists and cameramen stood at a long oval table, which became famous during the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron. They had not been allowed closer to the fireplace for some time, although there were times when they did their work much closer: the long oval table was behind them.

Meanwhile, the ambitions of Iraqi photographers, as it turned out, extended much further. They so wanted to break through as close as possible to the fireplace and the small coffee table, at which the president and prime minister were supposed to sit! But there was no way: in front of them there was a large table, a physical barrier.

And one photographer coped with a task that seemed impossible to solve at first glance. When Vladimir Putin and Mohammed al-Sudani sat down in chairs, he reached under the table and began to make his way under it closer to the scene of events. Well, it was just some kind of sabotage. They dragged him out of there by force. The guy resisted as best he could. Did his job.

It is also worth noting that Vladimir Putin, having appeared from the same place as Igor Sechin, waited at least a minute for the appearance of his Iraqi colleague, although this happens extremely rarely. Perhaps it meant something. Although unlikely.

Well, okay, I still can’t keep silent about the fact that the Russian Presidential Administration has prepared for the visit, again, as on Mr. Putin’s birthday in Novo-Ogarevo, by laying a good table for journalists (and again this was explained by the fact that the visit is international.. It seems that the budget for it is allocated in foreign currency…). So, everything quickly disappeared from the table except the sausage sandwiches, which are usually the first to go. But not this time: the Iraqi colleagues were reluctant to help the Russians, or, more precisely, they did not help at all, reaching straight for desserts.

And it didn’t all become clear right away, although it was obvious. But people were simply afraid of pork in sausage, and rightly so.

Yes, and regarding negotiations.

Vladimir Putin was, of course, expected to assess the situation in Israel. He talked for a long time about the prospects for cooperation with Iraq, about successful work within OPEC+ “with the aim of stabilizing the situation on world markets” (this is where it is about to fall into the abyss).

Finally, Vladimir Putin spoke out:

— Of course, your visit to Russia takes place against the backdrop of crises: the Ukrainian crisis continues, and, unfortunately, we see a sharp aggravation of the situation in the Middle East. I think that many will agree with me that this is a clear example of the failure of the policy of the United States in the Middle East, which tried to monopolize the settlement, but, unfortunately, was not concerned with finding compromises acceptable to both sides, but, on the contrary, putting forward its own their own ideas about how this should be done put pressure on both sides—namely, both: first on one, then on the other.

This was something that Mr. Putin apparently could not afford not to say. The United States is an ally of Israel, and how can one remain silent about the United States?

“But every time, without taking into account the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people,” the Russian President continued, “bearing in mind first of all the need to implement the UN General Assembly resolution on the creation of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.”

Mr. Putin apparently did not intend to take an unambiguous position in this story, when an act of unprecedented terrorism occurred on Israeli territory, or simply some kind of Babi Yar, a mass execution of civilians. Therefore, he made a third party to blame for everything, which brought both of them down.

“But in any case, no matter what happens there…” Mr. Putin continued. “I know your position, dear Mr. Prime Minister, and our position is that damage to the civilian population must be minimized and reduced to zero, and We call on all conflicting parties to do this.

I was expecting at least a condemnation of terrorism, albeit in the midst of unpredictable events, when every word was not just like a bullet, but like an Iskander. But no, I didn’t wait. Everything turned out very carefully.

But sometimes you have to call a spade a spade.

— We will certainly talk about this, as well as other problems, today during your visit. After such a meeting in a wide format, we are still planning a conversation during lunch, tete-a-tete, face to face,” Vladimir Putin concluded even more peacefully.

But the Prime Minister of Iraq had a breakthrough in the Representative Office. Well, this was a good platform for him. Whatever it is: just, as they say, lucky.

“There is now a complex and dangerous development of events in Palestine. This is the natural result of Israel continuing to commit violations against Palestinian rights, the international community remaining silent and failing to live up to its obligations under internationally recognized resolutions! – exclaimed Mohammed al-Sudani. – We are now witnessing another intifada, an uprising of Palestinians demanding an end to these violations of their rights!

This is what it turns out to be: “an uprising demanding an end to the violation of rights.”

— Obvious escalation, a very dangerous escalation, as a result of which civilians are dying (the Iraqi prime minister now meant, of course, the Gaza Strip.— A.K.), spontaneous bombings are carried out, including civilian targets! All this leads to the destruction of the Gaza Strip!

It was as if the first part of the events never happened.

“Now we all bear responsibility,” added the Iraqi Prime Minister, “as Arab countries, as Islamic countries, and also together with Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a great power!” This is a moral responsibility that falls, including on major powers, in order to stop these violations of the rights of Palestinians, to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip!

There were no illusions. Muhammad Sudani took a position that was predictable for him, but still the half-truths and disregard for common sense were striking.

But his last phrase was impeccable:

“We also want to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the region, establishing stability and security in the Middle East and throughout the world!”

As impeccable as it is meaningless.

Andrey Kolesnikov