Iraqi PM: Iraq not for threatening Iran

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Kamel al-Maleki in a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, yesterday announced that his country is not a place for threatening Iran.

He said that the Iraqi government and nation will not allow any group and faction to use its territory and facilities to invade Iran.

Meanwhile, he called for Iran's support for his country's government, nation and its current political affairs.

Maleki referred to the congratulatory messages of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Iraq's new government, which has been appointed by the National Assembly, as encouraging and in line with the favorable bilateral ties.

For his part, Kazemi Qomi declared the readiness of the Iranian nation and the country's Islamic ruling system to support Iraq's political and national developments.

Stressing that helping the Iraqi government and nation is the general policy of Iran, he said, "We are prepared to avail our potentials, experience and facilities to the multifaceted reconstruction of Iraq.

"Promotion of peace and tranquility in Iraq and solving the current problems and crises faced by it as well as progress of the country's' government and nation are among Iran's policies towards the neighboring Iraq." The diplomat hoped that through initiatives and measures of Iraq's new government, the country will succeed in overcoming challenges facing it.

Qomi, in a meeting with Speaker of Iraqi National Assembly, Mahmoud al-Mashadani yesterday, called for raising the level of bilateral relations because "Iraq's nation and government are interested in brotherly ties in line with the cultural and historical interests and commonalties of the two countries."