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Powerful Iraq will benefit regional states: President

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Baghdad, March 2, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-President
A united, powerful and developed Iraq would benefit all regional countries, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said on Sunday after his first round of talks with President Jalal Talabani of Iraq.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Talabani, the visiting president of Iran said his visit to Iraq opened "a new page in the history of Tehran-Baghdad relations" and would pave the way for further regional cooperation.

The Iranian president arrived in the Iraqi capital earlier on Sunday for a landmark visit to the country by an Iranian president after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

He said the first round of his talks with President Talabani which was held at Talabani's residence in Baghdad, was "positive and good." "We have same understanding of things and the two parties are determined to strengthen their political, economic and cultural cooperation," President Ahmadinejad said.

He regretted that the people of Iraq were going through "tough times."

"The people of Iraq will soon overcome the situation by relying on their natural, human and cultural potentials as well as their ancient civilization," President Ahmadinejad said.

He stressed that he "is very pleased with his visit to an Iraq not ruled by a dictator."

The visit is taking place at the invitation of President Talabani.

President Ahmadinejad is accompanied by a number of his cabinet ministers including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as well as ministers of energy, economy and transport and a group of Majlis deputies.

Before his departure for Baghdad, the President told reporters in Tehran that his visit aimed at consolidating bilateral friendly relations as well as cementing bilateral ties and cooperation between the two neighboring states.

Ahmadinejad is also due to confer with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, vice-president, heads of political parties, and officials of United Iraq Coalition and Iraqi Kurdistan administration.

Five to ten agreements are expected to be signed by officials of the two neighboring states on economic cooperation.

The Iranian and Iraqi ministers of energy would attend a ground breaking ceremony for establishment of two power plants in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. The projects are to be carried out with the help of Iranian experts.

Iraqi Ambassador in Tehran Mohammad Majeed al-Sheikh has earlier told IRNA that President Ahmadinejad's visit to Baghdad would play a major role in promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation in various political, economic and industrial fields.

Tight security measures have been put in place in Baghdad prior to the visit to Iraq of the Iranian president.

Iraqi presidential office spokesman had earlier told IRNA correspondent in Baghdad that 30,000 presidential guards are contributing to special security arrangements to guarantee the Iranian president's safety during the historic visit.

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