Today we visited Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Erbil and were received warmly by Evgeny Arzhantsev deputy head of Mission.

We exchanged our viewpoints about how MIRS and Russian think tanks, government and universities could coordinate together and lead with interdisciplinary research in providing not only scientific research and analysis, but also as part of corporate social responsibility we can produce timely and contemporaneous policy proposals by tackling much needed political, economic, social and cultural studies and how we aim to expand MIRS from a local institute to national and international research center and how MIRS can lead in terms of planning a roadmap for the future of Kurdistan and Iraq, especially in the fields of oil and gas, security, policy, education and cultural exchange programs.

Both sides agreed that the region of Kurdistan needs academic institutes like MIRS more than anything else. Our institute can play a significant role in presenting strategic studies to resolve and reform many of the political, economic and educational issues affecting Kurdistan and Iraq.

His excellency Evgeny expressed his future support and appreciation of the job we do now, especially in mobilizing the best talented young minds and professionals to carry out original research and policy proposals and more importantly how we rely on local and native researchers who are more familiar with Kurdistan than foreign experts.

We had a great conversation and looked forward to visit some Russian think tanks to further improve and expand the works of MIRS. Finally we enjoyed a cup of warm Russian coffee and chocolates.