Iraqi envoy: Maliki's visit to Iran opens new chapter

Iraq's Ambassador to Iran Mohamed Majid Abbas Sheikh said yesterday that the upcoming visit of Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to Iran would open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

He said the visit of the Iraqi premier would leave significant impacts on expansion of ties between the two countries. Given growing ties between Iran and Iraq, he said the visit is to help broaden exchange of views and consolidate friendly ties between the two sides.

Expansion of economic, commercial and industrial cooperation as well as tightening security cooperation are among the goals of the visit, he said. The Iraqi premier visited Iran last year.