Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with the visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani here on Tuesday.
During the meeting, which was also attended by the Iraqi foreign minister, the two sides discussed the ongoing insecurities, presence of occupying forces, and the necessity for increasing the two countries’ trade exchanges, a statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau said.
Noting the two countries’ cooperation in different spheres, including in the energy sector, Mottaki described pipeline and power plant construction projects as among the best areas for the two countries’ cooperation.
He also viewed the mutual political ties as desirable, saying that senior officials of both states are decisive to further expand relations.
Describing Iraq’s security as among the most significant issues of concern, he said, “We believe that domestic, regional and trans-regional factors contribute to the present insecurities in Iraq.”
The top diplomat also reminded, “The different Iraqi ethnic groups and sects have been conducting a peaceful life alongside each other for centuries, but there are now some suspicious movements which are seeking to foment ethnic conflicts in that country, and they are the ones who have ignited the present flame in that country.”
For his part, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani stressed the need for the development of ties between Iran and his country, and further briefed Mottaki about how Iraq’s neighboring states can assist Baghdad in the containment of the existing insecurities in that country.
