Iraqi minister: Baghdad will never be a safe haven for Iran`s opposition forces
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Aug 1, IRNA -- Iraqi Finance Minister Abdel Abdul-Mahdi said here Sunday that the Iraqi interim government would never let the country turn into a safe haven for the opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran to get involved in sabotage against Iran. Speaking at the conference on Iran-Iraq economic opportunities, he said "the two sides` political stances would be regarded as the yardstick for our bilateral ties." In the course of history, whenever Iran and Iraq got united and started close cooperation, they were the origin of great civilizations and wherever there were tensions and differences between them, this entailed great devastations and losses, he said. The confab would help normalize and make friendly the ties between the two neighboring countries, he underlined. Composition of Iraqi economic delegation indicates to what extend Baghdad attaches importance to expansion of ties with Tehran, he said. The Iraqi delegation are to prove that they are fully determined to broaden industrial, cultural, financial, commercial and agricultural cooperation with Iran, he pointed out. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein and freedom of the Iraqi nation from despotic government, it has been trying to normalize ties between the two countries, he said. Some grouplets are trying to mar Iraq`s image in the world by saying that there are still carnage and bloodshed in the country but there is a new plan at hands to normalize the situation, he said. Transfer of power to the Iraqi interim government is a positive move, he said. Iraq`s war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and Kuwait resulted in inflicting heavy damage on those countries, he said. He called for rehabilitation of Iraq`s economy through proper education, economic policies, foreign investments as well as revision of banking and taxation laws. Referring to the pledge made by Iran`s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi to invest in Iraq and provide financial assistance to Iraq during Madrid conference, he said "We appreciate Iran`s move for reconstruction of the war-shattered country." "Our neighboring countries can help run Iraq`s stock exchange market, industrial investments as well tourism industry," he said. "We are looking forward to a very prosperous economic, political and security environment in the country," he said. "The Iranian nation should be aware of the fact that both nations were victims of a devastating war imposed by Saddam and now we urge the Iranian nation to increase their current humanitarian aid to our people," he said. Formation of the Iraqi interim government is considered as a positive move paving the way for a nationwide public election, he underlined. Recent bomb explosions and massacre of innocent people will tarnish the real image of the Iraqi nation, he pointed out. Highlighting Iran`s positive move in recognizing the Iraqi interim government, he said prior to formation of the country`s parliament "We seek more political cooperation to reinforce security in the country." Under no circumstances Iraq would let saboteurs or terrorists to use Iraq as a safe haven to target the Islamic Republic of Iran, he said. "I should strongly assert that any political stands which will be taken by the Iraqi government or other countries should be taken into account." he said. A high-ranking Iraqi political and economic delegation arrived in Iran on Saturday through the Khosravi border town in the western Kermanshah province to attend the conference on Iran-Iraq economic cooperation. The delegation includes deputy ministers of foreign affairs, finance, oil, water and housing as well as Baghdad mayor and heads of Iraqi chamber of commerce. Iranian and Iraqi officials are to exchange views on bilateral cooperation within the framework of eight general meetings under the titles of banking cooperation, trade, industry and energy, construction affairs, agriculture and development of human resources and tourism. 1430/1412
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