On Iraqi- Iranian relations

Iraq on Monday called on Iran to take measures that can provide the necessary atmospheres to normalize relations between the two countries, and called on the Iranian officials to give up repeating claims that there are Iranian prisoners held by Iraq.

A spokesman for the Iraqi foreign ministry said that the ministry calls on the Iranian officials to take measures that avail necessary atmospheres to normalize ties between the two neighboring countries and to maintain good neighborly relations. He added that the former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani repeats groundless claims and makes them as a precondition to normalize relations with Iraq.

The Iraqi spokesman explained that launching such statements does not serve the work towards normalizing relations between the two countries at a time when the region has been witnessing a fierce Zionist- American onslaught targeting Arabs and Muslims and to overcome the Palestinian Intifada.

He stressed that Iraq released all Iranian prisoners and all of these prisoners were back to their home under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and only one Iranian prisoner is left in Iraq who is " pilot Hassan Rida Lashkari who was released on April 6th, 1998. He added that Iraq also released all Iranian prisoners who took part in the war of 1991 or ordinary prisoners.