In These New Times

(IRNA) Tehran, June 8,
The visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met and conferred with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on issues of mutual interest.

Maliki arrived in Tehran on Saturday evening for a three-day visit.

Expressing his satisfaction with the current visit to Tehran of the Iraqi premier, Mottaki said the visit will be a turning point in the two countries bilateral relations.

Tehran is determined to further bolster friendly ties with Baghdad, he said stressing that the two countries’ leaders are willing to promote bilateral cooperation.

Mottaki briefed the Iraqi prime minister on Iran’s efforts to encourage the neighboring states to assist the Iraqi government and nation.

He further lauded diplomatic presence of the regional states in Iraq.

Referring to positive outcome of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Iraq, he said the visit paved the way for further expansion of Tehran-Baghdad relations.

The Iranian president was in Iraq from March 2-3 on a landmark visit during which the two sides signed a number of memoranda of understanding on bilateral cooperation.

Underlining the need to boost bilateral economic and trade relations, the Iranian FM called on the Iraqi ministers accompanying Maliki in his Tehran visit to find out new potentials for expansion of all-out cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Voicing readiness of Baghdad to strengthen ties with Iran, al-Maliki said all Iraqi groups emphasize strengthening ties with Iran in all fields.

The current consultations between the two countries indicated the amicable ties based on mutual interests, he added.

Referring to objectives of his current visit to Tehran, al-Maliki said Baghdad is determined to boost all-out ties with all its neighboring states, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the basis of goodwill and mutual interest.

As to the latest developments in his country, he said Iraqi security and stability would have positive impacts on the entire region.

Baghdad would not allow its soil to be used as a base to damage the security of the neighbouring countries, including Iran, the Iraqi premier reiterated.

The premier, on his third visit to Tehran since taking office two years ago, was welcomed by First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi.

Maliki is scheduled to meet President Ahmadinejad on Sunday before leaving for Mashhad to pay pilgrimage to holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) Infallible Household.

The prime minister, who lived in exile in Iran during the Saddam dictatorship, made his first official trip to Iran in September 2006.

The first visit by an Iraqi premier since the US-led invasion was made by Maliki’s predecessor Ibrahim al-Jaafari in July 2005