(VOVworld) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow provides military and technical assistance to Iraqi Kurds with the consent of Baghdad and exclusively through the Iraqi government.

Russia's FM Sergei Lavrov talks during a news conference at Oulu City Hall, October 14, 2015. (Photo: Reuters/Timo Heikkala/Lehtikuva)

Addressing a press conference in Finland after talks with Finnish colleague Timo Soini, Lavrov said that the Kremlin provides military and technical cooperation between sovereign States, in particular, the governments of Iraq and Syria.

Lavrov called on everyone to jointly fight terrorism, come together and coordinate their steps.

He said a new intelligence center in Baghdad currently staffed by Russian, Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian officials remained open to all interested parties.

The IS has captured large areas in Syria and Iraq. Its advance is being countered by the airstrikes of the US-led coalition, and an air campaign by Russia.