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Mottaki calls for timetable for foreigners' withdrawal from Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 9, IRNA
Conference-Iraq-Mottaki
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Saturday called for setting a timetable for withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq.

Mottaki said in his address to the 9th conference of foreign ministers of Iraqi neighbors that Iran believes a timetable should be set for withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that time is ripe for foreign forces to leave Iraq at the earliest convenience and relegate all affairs to the Iraqi nation and its democratic government," he said.

He added, "This is a point which the United Nations resolutions also called for. Despite certain beliefs, the withdrawal can help establish more security in Iraq."
He said massacre of the Iraqi people, increasing violence, terrorist acts, violation of sanctities of holy sites, abduction of Iraqi officials and foreign diplomats and recent martyrdom of Iranian pilgrims are among most fundamental problems in Iraq which are increased day by day owing to presence of foreigners.

On reconstruction of Iraq, he added, Iran has drawn up plans for economic cooperation including providing development assistance, encouraging investment and promoting trade and tourism.

"Iran has currently active cooperation with the Iraqi government." "With respect to removing economic and basic needs of the Iraqi nation including fuel, electricity and health aid, we spare no efforts to help Iraq.

"We believe that removal of Iraqi problems and establishment of stability in that country need collective effort and cooperation between Iraq and regional states."
Mottaki stated, "I seize the opportunity to maintain that establishment of peace and stability in Iraq is not the only factor for providing security in the sensitive region of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

"Occurrence of four wars in less than three decades in the region is the best reason for adopting new security strategy based on non-presence of foreign forces and in cooperation with all regional states."
Foreign ministers of Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt opened their 9th two-day conference in Tehran on Saturday.

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