Expectations for release Iranian prisoners in Iraq
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 5/27/2006

An Iraqi official yesterday evening assured he would follow up release of Iranian nationals still held in Iraqi jails.

Adnan al-Dulaimi, leader of Accordance Front (the main bloc representing Iraq's Sunni minority), made the remarks at a press conference he attended following his meeting with the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

He said he had urged the Iraqi government to release 1,000 Iranians still held in various Iraqi prisons.

Al-Dulaimi, who heads the powerful parliamentary faction which represents Iraqi Sunnis, further underlined the need for expansion of Iran-Iraq ties in all fields.

He urged Iran and all the Arab states to help restore security and stability to his war-devastated country. He was optimistic Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki's current visit to Iraq would open a new chapter in Tehran-Baghdad bilateral relations and, in particular, be a step toward restoration of peace and security to Iraq.

Al-Dulaimi also hoped multi-national forces currently in Iraq would leave the country as soon as possible and thereby remove an obstacle to restoration of peace and tranquility in the country.

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), expressed his satisfaction with the current visit of the Iranian delegation to his country and expressed hope the visit will help boost current bilateral ties between the two neighboring states.

For his part, the Iranian foreign minister referred to the outcome of his visit to Iraq as "positive" and said the ground has been paved for Muslim solidarity and removal of differences among Muslim groups in the country.

Mottaki announced Iran's full readiness to take part in the process of reconstruction of Iraq in a meeting with an Iraqi leading politician.

Speaking to the Head of the Solid Iraq Parliamentary Fraction Seyyed Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, Mottaki added, "Various agreements have been signed during Iraqi officials' visits of Iran, the implementation of which can pave the path for broadening ties with Iraq." Mottaki referred to the combination of the delegation he is leading during this visit, arguing, "This proves Iran's will to broaden comprehensive ties with Iraq." He finally prayed for the salvation of the souls of all martyrs who have laid in their blood for the liberation of Iraq, particularly Martyr Grand Ayatollah Hakim.

Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, too, during the meeting said that Iran has always been by the side of the Iraqi nation throughout the toughest moments of their history, reiterating, "The Iraqi nation has paid dearly the price for getting rid of the Baathist regime."

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution of Iraq referred to the achievements of the Iraqi government in the course of the past two years, including launching a referendum for Iraq's permanent Constitution, organizing the parliamentary elections, and the establishment of the new Iraqi government, saying, "All such victories have been achieved amid sabotage of the opponents and brutal terrorist acts." As to the extraordinary efforts of the Iranian government to help establish a popular Iraqi government over the past three years, Mottaki said Tehran had never supported a certain party or religious group.

Mottaki, heading a political delegation, arrived in Baghdad Friday morning for a two-day visit. His visit to Baghdad is taking place just days after the new government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maleki took office. The visit indicates the high importance Tehran attaches to the Iran-Iraq relations both in the bilateral and regional fields.

Previous Stories:
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