Iran, Iraq to broaden ties
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 5/27/2006

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki today after wrapping up an official trip to Iraq and after a meeting with religious dignitaries in Najaf, said his aims was to congratulate the new Iraq government and nation, and wished them well in their efforts to prevail over future problems notably terrorism and security.

Mottaki also condemned all terrorism in Iraq saying "We regard instability in Iraq as an omen for the people of the country and the continuation of the trend as ominous for the stability in the region."

He said that another goal of his trip was to follow up on the implementation of signed agreements in various areas. To expand the bilateral economic and trade volume as one billion dollars line of credit has been allocated by Iran to boost exports and to expedite the implementation of various projects in Iraq.

Mottaki said that he has discussed setting up a meeting in Tehran of Iraqi neighbors plus Egypt.

He said a new chapter in mutual relations including pening of Iranian consulates in Arbil, Sulaymaniyeh, Karbala and resumption of activity of Iranian consulate in Basra. The opening of Iraqi consulates in Khorramshahr, Mashhad and Kermanshah was also discussed between the two sides.

The two sides also talked about forming a border security committee to coordinate activities for confronting possible provocations, the Iranian foreign minister added.

Mottaki today met with the Iraqi religious leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Najaf. At the meeting, Mottaki said that Iran has always backed the Iraqi nation and government and will defend the country's integrity. Commonalities and interests of Iran and Iraq indicate the extent to which the two countries are close to each other, he said.

Given the enthusiasm shown by the Iraqi and Iranian Muslims to visit religious sites in the two countries, he said Iran supports any programs leading to increase in number of pilgrims exchanged between the two countries.

Mottaki also conveyed the greetings of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Ayatollah Sistani, for his part, prayed for success of Iranian leader as well as the country's officials and said the Almighty's consent would be on improving the status of Muslims.

Iran's foreign minister and his entourage met with a number of Iraqi Ulema and exchanged views on Iran's support for the Iraqi nation and government.

Mottaki arrived in Iraq on Friday for a two-day visit heading a high-ranking political delegation. He has so far met with his Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maleki and representatives of various Iraqi religious groups. Before arriving in Najaf, Mottaki and his entourage visited the holy shrines of Imam Hossein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, and his brother, Hazrat Abbas, in the holy city of Karbala

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