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President Talabani refutes charges of Iran meddling in Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 22, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-Talabani
President Jalal Talabani here Tuesday brushed aside accusations that Iran was interfering in Iraq's domestic affairs.

Talabani instead called on the two neighbors to seize on "the best historical moment to establish the best relations between the two countries".

"I reiterate that the accusation of an Iranian interference in Iraq's affairs is repudiated, for ... Iran does not need to meddle in Iraq," he told at a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel.

"Iran and Iraq hold numerous religious, historical, cultural and geographic commonalties and we have come to Iran to strengthen our friendly and strategic relations," Talabani said.

He is the first Iraqi leader to visit Iran in nearly four decades, including a difficult period which saw the two countries fight a war for eight years following Saddam's invasion of Iran in 1980.

Talabani hoped that relations between the two countries would further expand in all fields.

The Iraqi president called for expansion of economic relations as well as Iran's assistance "to build a prosperous, secure and free Iraq".

Haddad-Adel hailed Iraq "a country with the most ancient human civilization" and dismissed accusations of Iranian interference in Iraq.

The parliament speaker reiterated Iran's stance that public votes must form the basis of the future Iraqi government, adding security and peace in Iraq would benefit all neighboring countries, including Iran.

Haddad-Adel renewed his invitation for his Iraqi counterpart Hajem al-Hassani to visit the Islamic Republic.

Iran also demanded that an Iraqi court trying Saddam take in an indictment brought by Tehran against the former dictator.

Judiciary chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi assured Talabani that "the indictment proposed by Iran against Saddam is based on international legal norms".

"(It) contains documents and complaints brought by Iranian citizens against Saddam's crimes, including human and financial losses which have been imposed on the Iranian nation," Shahroudi said.

Last month, Iran announced that it had sent its own indictment against Saddam to Iraq's government, with the list of complaints including genocide and the use of chemical weapons.

The judiciary said the indictment included "the crimes the Iraqi dictator perpetrated against Iranian soldiers through violation of Geneva Convention concerning Iranian prisoners of war, and use of unconventional and chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers".

Bombing schools, mosques, houses, and using chemical weapons, genocide, crimes against humanity, violating international conventions, violating all Islamic and ethical principles as well as killing clerics, women, children and innocent people are among the complaints.

Talabani promised cooperation on putting Iran's complaints on the agenda of the court proceedings.

Shahroudi touched on the two countries' consolidation of ties since general elections were held in Iraq, saying that "security in Iraq is Iran's and the Islamic Republic is prepared to help its neighbor in the legal and juridical spheres".

"The Iraqi government and nation have made good progress so far; it is hoped that with the help of God, they would remove existing obstacles they are faced with and confront conspiracies," the Iranian official said.

Shahroudi demanded that like security, due attention be paid to "cultural and moral issues" in Iraq and "the Iraqi youth be guarded against the influence of the Western culture".

Talabani briefed the Iranian judiciary chief on unfolding developments in Iraq, saying "the Iraqi people regard the Iranian nation and officials as their friends".

Earlier in the day, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei told Talabani that Iran is proud of Iraq's progress, security, independence and national strength and there is no limits on bolstering cooperation with Iraq.

"Your security is our own security and Iran honors Iraq's independence and power. We will extend assistance to you in those fields," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

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