Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Mottaki: Iran has entailed heavy costs to maintain Iraq's security

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Dec 2, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-Mottaki
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran has entailed heavy costs over the past six years in helping maintain security and promoting development in the war-torn country.

Iran, he pointed out, regards Iraq's security as the security of the entire region.

Mottaki made the remarks in a joint press conference with the visiting Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Bolat Nurgaliyev in Tehran on Tuesday.

On the Iraq-US security pact which was approved by the Iraqi parliament last Thursday, he said that the issue should be studied from two aspects.

The first is that in six months, foreign forces should hand over the administration of the country to the Iraqi government and withdraw from Iraqi cities one by one and the second point is that the Iraqi people will vote on the Iraq-US security pact which is of prime importance, he noted.

"We hope the foreign forces will leave Iraq in due course," Mottaki underlined.

Security of Iraq is now regarded as the security of the entire region, he said adding that Iran has incurred heavy costs over the past 5-6 years ago to help the country develop and progress.

Iran's permanent membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization is among Tehran's strategic goals, Mottaki said.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization can play a significant role in helping maintain peace within its geographical boundaries, he said.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed various issues such as campaign against drug trafficking as well as extremism, he said.

On the impacts of global economic crisis on China and Russia, he said both countries suffered huge losses due to such global crisis but if Shanghai Cooperation Organization can play a vital role in forging economic cooperation among its member states it could be considered as a safe haven during such global crisis.

Secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, for is part, defined the goals of the organization as creation of a world free from unilateral decision-making or unilateralism.

During talks with Iranian foreign minister, the two sides studied expansion of mutual cooperation along with regional and global developments, he said.

Iran and Shanghai Cooperation Organization have a common understanding on the present realities and are to adopt a forward approach in dealing with these events, he said adding that the two sides spare no efforts to promote solidarity in dealing with resolving regional problems.

He welcomed Iran's policy for expansion of cooperation with Shanghai Cooperation Organization and underlined the need for further convergence among Shanghai members in economic and social affairs.

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