ERBIL (Ruptly) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took part in a series of meetings with leaders from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Erbil on Monday.

The Kurdish region’s government was represented by the Barzani clan, including former leader Masoud Barzani, current president Nechirvan Barzani, and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Lavrov’s Erbil visit involved negotiations relating to the current situation in the Middle East, and discussion of joint actions against terrorism.

Earlier on Monday, Lavrov held meetings with Iraqi President Barham Ahmed Salih, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al-Hakim, speaker of the Council of Representatives Mohamed al-Halbousi and Prime Minister of Iraq, Adil Abdul-Mahdi. These meetings took place as part of the first visit by Russia’s top diplomat to Iraq in the last five years.