Sudden Iranian- Iraqi talks in Tehran
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 2/10/2003

The Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi stressed yesterday during his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri, who was in Tehran in a surprising visit that was linked to Baghdad's desire to be briefed on the talks Kharazi recently made on the Iraqi crisis, on that the region cannot bear a third war within two decades ( in remarks to the Iranian- Iraqi war and the second Gulf war) and on that the full Iraqi cooperation with the UN inspectors refutes the American allegations and need to use force.

Simultaneously, Tehran stressed that "in the current crisis, its utmost concern is to preserve national interests," denying any dialogue with Washington on the standing conflict.

The Iranian news agency quoted Kharazi as saying that the region has witnessed two wars during the two past decades and will not bear the occurrence of a third war. He stressed that the full Iraqi cooperation with the UN inspectors drops the allegations from the hands of the USA and prevents the use of force and that Baghdad's full commitment to the UN resolutions constitute the last opportunity to contain the situation.

Kharazi, also called for the need of solving all matters pending since the Iraqi- Iranian war, calling for closing the file of prisoners and the missing.

For his part, Sabri briefed his Iranian counterpart on latest developments concerning the situation and Iraq's cooperation with the UN inspectors.

However, Sabri's one-day visit to Iran came following short talks Kharazi had held last week with the British Prime minister Tony Blair, and with the chairman of UN inspectors Hans Blix and the visit held by the EU commissioner for foreign political affairs, Chris Patten to Tehran.

Previous Stories:
  Iranian helping measures for Iraqi opposition forces to cross into Irbil   (1/29/2003)
  Iraqi opposition postpones meeting again; Iraqi army fortifies Karkouk; successful meeting betewen al-Hakim, al-Jalabi   (1/27/2003)
  Iranian official in Baghdad   (1/21/2003)

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