Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari (left) at a meeting in Moscow on October 23, 2017. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

During his meetings with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia respects the Kurds’ wish to express their identity as long as they engage in dialogue with the Iraqi government. He said both sides should decide if they will engage in direct dialogue or if they need some sort of intermediaries, adding that Moscow hopes there will be no conflict between Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

On Monday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said 136,000 people had to flee from northern Iraq following recent escalating violence in the region. Tensions in northern Iraq have escalated since local Kurdish authorities held a referendum.