EC chairman: Iran wishes calm, free, united Iraq
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Nov 22, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-Talabani
Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Tuesday that a calm, free and united Iraq is the call of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Rafsanjani further told visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that a free Iraq can, along with Iran and other regional states, play an effective role in settling the problems of the world of Islam and the Middle East.
He said signs of maturity, growth and wisdom are seen in the Iraqi people and officials and there is no more important wish for the Islamic Republic of Iran than seeing the Iraqi people decide their own fate.
He added that the Iraqi nation's power in the process of political transition showed that they can run their country without foreign presence and intervention or dictation of foreign powers.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Rafsanjani said division of the Iraqi people is the wish of the enemies of Iraq.
"The Iraqi nation and government need more than ever before to tolerate different tastes and, if differences are peacefully settled, calm will be restored to the country more speedily," he added.
Rafsanjani said terrorist acts and certain suspicious moves are the cost of transition from former conditions to the present favorable conditions, adding, "The criminal events and acts taking place in Iraq are very bitter for us."
He said upcoming elections in Iraq would open a new chapter in the history of the country, hoping that the Iraqi people and government would leave behind this stage successfully.
He also voiced Iran's readiness to put its expertise at Iraq's disposal in its post-war reconstruction drive if Baghdad so wishes.
Iran can provide the Iraqi people and government with assistance in water, electricity, gas and telephone services, said Rafsanjani, calling for facilitation of pilgrimage and recreational tours to either country.
Talabani for his part lauded Iran's stances on Iraq, saying the Iraqi nation will never forget the support and assistance of the Iranian government and nation.
He said the Iraqi nation knows quite well that had it not been for Iran's support during those tough and dark days, Iraq would not have been able to attain such a position today.
He thanked Iranian officials and people for supporting the Iraqi people and said he is in Tehran to help bolster "historical and strategic" ties between Tehran and Baghdad in the political, economic and commercial sectors.
He said discord among the Iraqi people obstructs the country's progress, saying Baghdad will try to ensure that Iraq belongs to all Iraqi people.
He added that terrorism and its spread will be harmful to all, hoping that reforms in police and security forces would put an end to such a phenomenon in Iraq.
Calling as "decisive" future elections in Iraq, Talabani said the elections will provide the entire Iraqi nation with a chance to decide their fate by participating in the polls. He hoped that all Iraqi ethnic groups would have a representation in the post-election parliament.
He said proper conditions are available for expansion of Iran-Iraq ties, adding that friendly ties between Iran and Iraq will benefit both nations.
Talabani hoped for speedy removal of problems concerning arrangement of pilgrimage tours and inviting Rafsanjani to pay a visit to Iraq and its holy sites.
1420/2322/1412
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