The prime minister will be accompanied by the interior minister, the healthcare minister, the communications minister, the energy minister, the oil minister, the planning minister and a deputy defence minister, the Iraqi embassy in Moscow told RIA Novosti.
Speaking to members of the Transitional National Assembly on Thursday, Mr Allawi said he intended to discuss Iraq's debt to Russia and bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sphere at Moscow meetings.
Iraq's owes an overall of $120 billion to other countries, according to the Arab media. The Paris Club of Creditor Nations, Russia among them, agreed to write off 80% of Iraq's debt last month.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Bangkok that there were many issues on Russian-Iraqi agenda, but settlement should be ensured in the country in the first instance. "The most important thing at the current stage is to settle the situation in Iraq in compliance with the UN Security Council decisions so that the Iraqi people could take their country's destiny in their hands as soon as possible," said Mr Lavrov.
Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesman, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that the general elections to the Transitional National Assembly scheduled for January 30, 2005 would be a milestone event in the settlement process in Iraq. "Russia hopes the political process stipulated in the UN Security Council resolution 1546 will advance among other things via general democratic elections," said the diplomat.
Mr Yakovenko said Russia was intent at helping the Iraqi people rebuild their country. "Both countries are discussing the possibility of Russia's greater involvement in Iraq's post-war reconstruction. They are outlining priority areas and specific joint projects to revive Iraq's economy andwelfare, including in line with available agreements," said Mr Yakovenko.
The Iraqi premier's visit to Moscow will last into December 8.
